According to the Express’ live blog (14:53), Charlton Athletic is reportedly interested in signing a 22-year-old midfielder from MTK Budapest. Despite already having a strong midfield lineup, including recent signings Greg Docherty and Luke Berry, as well as existing players like Conor Coventry and Karoy Anderson, Charlton is looking to bolster their options further.
The departure of George Dobson this summer left a gap in their midfield, and manager Nathan Jones seems to believe that additional depth is necessary to meet the team’s ambitions for the season.
Chartlon Athletic interested in Mihaly Kata
Kata is reported to be a person of interest to Charlton, according to the Express. He is said to have been a player that Southampton looked at in the January transfer window, before they won promotion to the Premier League, but, since their return to the top flight, their likening of him has diminished.
The Express added that a number of clubs have made offers for Kata this summer, who played all but two league games for MTK, who are currently top of the Hungarian first division, last season. However, the bids haven’t met the club’s valuation of the player, which isn’t known at this time.
He made his debut for the club as a 17-year-old in December 2019. Since then, he has gone on to make just shy of 80 league appearances for MTK, and he was part of the Hungary squad that went to Euro 2024 this summer.
The defensive side of the game is where his best abilities are, compared to what he can do going forward. He gets on the ball a lot for MTK and he looks to be just as adept at playing it as he is winning it back again.
| Mihaly Kata’s 24/25 stats (as of 14/05/24) | |
|---|---|
| Apps | 3 |
| Starts | 3 |
| Goals + Assists | 0 |
| Touches per game | 58.3 |
| Accurate passes per game | 38.3 (88%) |
| Tackles + interceptions per game | 5 |
| Balls recovered per game | 4 |
| Duels won per game | 7 (62%) |
This isn’t the first time Charlton Athletic has been linked to Hungarian football in recent transfer talks. Former Addicks defender Terell Thomas, along with George Dobson, reportedly attracted interest from MTK Budapest’s league rivals, Fehervar. Thomas seemed poised for a move to the continent but made a last-minute decision to head for Wales instead, ultimately joining Carlisle United.
Mihaly Kata looks to be an interesting prospect
Making your professional debut at a young age and quickly becoming an integral part of the team, regardless of the level, is often a strong indicator of potential and consistency.
While Kata may not stand out in terms of major statistics like goals and assists, Charlton Athletic already has players like Greg Docherty and Karoy Anderson, who featured in the opening league game against Wigan Athletic, to fill those attacking roles from midfield. If Charlton were to sign Kata, they wouldn’t necessarily rely on him to be a primary creator of chances; instead, he could bring stability and depth to the squad.
In a team aiming to dominate and climb high up the table, having players in the midfield who can help retain possession is crucial. Kata seems to fit that profile. Given the right price, taking a chance on this prospect might be a risk worth considering for Charlton Athletic.
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