Charlton Athletic have been active in the summer transfer window, enhancing their squad with several new additions, including goalkeeper Will Mannion, center-back Alex Mitchell, midfielder Luke Berry, and striker Matty Godden.
Charlton’s manager is eager to make more signings before the transfer window closes at the end of August and is confident that the club’s owners will support him in this endeavor.
Jones has previously stated that he would only look at loan options if they could significantly enhance the squad. As the deadline approaches, he may consider temporary signings to bolster his team.
With this in mind, let’s explore a couple of Premier League players who Charlton could target for short-term loans to strengthen their squad.
Leo Castledine
One player Charlton might look to sign on loan is Chelsea midfielder Leo Castledine. The 19-year-old is highly regarded at Stamford Bridge and could significantly enhance the Addicks’ squad. Although it would be a loan rather than a permanent move, Jones might be interested in bringing him on board.
Charlton could benefit from adding another creative midfielder, and Castledine, who impressed in Premier League 2 for Chelsea last season, would provide that additional quality.
| Leo Castledine’s 2023/24 Premier League 2 stats (Transfermarkt) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 18 | 10 | 9 |
He made appearances for Chelsea’s first team in the EFL Cup last season and was also on the bench for some Premier League matches. Now available for loan, Chelsea hope he will gain valuable experience with a Championship club or a top League One team during the 2024/25 season.
Charlton Athletic could have an edge in pursuing Castledine due to their London location. Chelsea might be inclined to send him to Charlton, especially given Conor Gallagher’s successful loan spell at The Valley during the 2019/20 season.
While Championship clubs are likely to show interest in Castledine, making it a challenging deal to finalize, Charlton should consider making an attempt if he is available.
Josh Keeley
Charlton Athletic have yet to secure another goalkeeper following the arrival of Will Mannion, despite this being a reported priority for the club. They have faced setbacks in their efforts to sign several goalkeepers, including Asmir Begovic, Karl Hein, and Viljami Sinisalo.
Thankfully, Mannion has made a strong start to the season, keeping two clean sheets in the first two league games. However, with Harry Isted’s move to Burton Albion, Charlton could benefit from an additional option in goal.
A viable solution might be to sign a young goalkeeper on loan to serve as backup to Mannion. Tottenham Hotspur’s Josh Keeley, who was on loan at Barnet in the National League last season, could be a good fit. Alternatively, Ashley Maynard-Brewer could step in if needed, though he had some challenging moments last season.
While Charlton’s search for a new goalkeeper hasn’t gone as planned, Mannion’s promising form suggests the team will be fine if they can secure a loan backup. The right addition could even provide healthy competition for the starting role.
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