“Too good to refuse” – Lee Bowyer tells us why Charlton Athletic allowed Macauley Bonne’s QPR move

Charlton Athletic have sold Macauley Bonne to QPR – with Addicks manager Lee Bowyer saying the deal was “too good to refuse”.

The fee has not been disclosed but the South London Press understands it is in the region of £2million.

That is a huge profit on the 24-year-old, who was signed from Leyton Orient for £200,000 after Charlton won promotion to the Championship in 2019.

The South Londoners also have a sell-on in the switch.

Bonne, who has signed a three-year contract, netted 11 times in 36 matches for the Addicks. And the Ipswich-born frontman was praised by Bowyer for the way he handled the transfer speculation.

QPR made multiple bids for the Charlton man.

Bowyer said: “What Macca has been is a pleasure to work with. He’s been a really good pro and he’s developed a lot from when we took him last season.

“He has only been here a year and has developed lots from the player who walked through the door. He has got a lot better and he works hard – that is what happens when you work hard, you then move on.

“It’s a great deal for the club. It’s good business – something we couldn’t turn down.

“The last thing the owner wants to do is come in and sell players but this is something we can’t refuse.

“Macca is a great lad and has been very professional through all this. He has not come knocking on the door and saying: ‘Let me go’. But he had told me that he would like to move on. He understood it had to be right for everybody and he just carried on – it’s been going on a little while. But he kept working hard. He is a nice lad.

“We improve players, that’s what we do. That’s my job and in total I think it’s about £10m we have brought into the club since I’ve been in charge and we’ve only spent £275,000 – £200,000 of that on Macca.

“We’re doing a good job for the club and for the players – I’m expecting a lot of nice Christmas presents! Lyle [Taylor] has moved on, Karlan [Grant] has moved on and now Macca – all strikers.

“It now means we will sign two strikers. We will replace Macca and bring another one in as well.”

PICTURE: QPR FC