Tom Lockyer’s Charlton departure is confirmed – but Addicks target Adam Matthews’ future is now up in the air as right-back assesses his options
BY LOUIS MENDEZ
Charlton defender Tom Lockyer has completed his move to Championship side Luton Town on a three-year deal – but this doesn’t mean that Adam Matthews will now pen a new deal at The Valley.
Welsh international Lockyer had activated a relegation clause in his Addicks contract that enabled him to leave on a free transfer after last year’s demotion from the Championship. His arrival at Kenilworth Road was confirmed on Tuesday afternoon, seemingly paving the way for Lee Bowyer to add Adam Matthews into his 23-man squad under the strict terms of the South Londoners’ transfer embargo.
The EFL’s ruling meant the Valley outfit could only sign additional players once others have left thanks to a punishment imposed upon the club due to their ownership crisis and East Street Investment’s failure to satisfy EFL source of funds tests.
Bowyer had hoped Matthews, who impressed on a short-term deal with the club during the last campaign, would put pen to paper once Lockyer’s departure was confirmed – but it now seems that the full-back has other options.
“Adam’s not going to happen at the moment,” explained Bowyer.
“[Director of Football] Steve Gallen went to his agent who said ‘not at the moment’. They just want to see what else is out there for them, which is their choice. So, we have to go down a different line now.
“We’re looking at other options and who we can bring in quickly. We’ve got loads of players lined up but they won’t wait around. We’ve got to choose which ones we can get through quickly without them going somewhere else. The ones that will hurt us more if you like.
“Hopefully once Thomas [Sandgaard] gets the go ahead [with his takeover of the club] and hopefully it’s not too long away, we can just go bang, bang, bang, bang. We’ve got five or six players lined up. We’ve just got to hope they just wait around for that amount of time. That’s my worry because everyone wants to be secure and know what they’re doing next season.”
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