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Summer Window 2026 - Rumours and Discussion
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That weak squad will likely finish 15-19th in the Championship this year. A lot of our younger players are hopefully going to benefit from the experience gained during the season. We will of course strengthen in the summer. If you think those players are redundant, then losing them and getting more in will likely mean a stronger squad? Jones and Bell have been two of our best starters and I don't see how them ticking over to 31 and 32 means they will drop off a cliff?Gisappointed said:We have paid fees for Mitchell, Ahadme, Knibbs, Burke, Apter, Olaofe, and Taylor all of whom cost money but are short of the required standard and likely to be loaned/sold/released along with Berry. That's eight redundant players. We have Doc, Macca, JRC who are squad players at best and perhaps five homegrown players yet to make an impact. Four loans/short-termers going out and at least three others in the last year of their contract.
That spells a seriously weak squad next season. Jones, Godden and Bell getting on in years. And are Coventry, Kaminsky, Carey or Kelman of Championship standard?
I do think Coventry, Kaminski, Carey and Kelman are of Championship standard, yes. Perhaps not star players, and maybe not long term, top-level starters but all have shown they are more than good enough on their day(s). For where we are in the league, I think they're all capable of being important players and in the case of Carey, Coventry and Kelman will hopefully improve as they are likely not in their peak. I'm not sure we can say Knibbs is short of the standard - he's hardly had any gametime and still produced three goals. I don't see a world in which he is loaned, sold or released this summer. I'd imagine we keep Burke too.
Squad building and recruitment are the keys to success nowadays, but it involves massive gambles and will see many failures - some of which you've listed above. However, let's say we make three good low-cost signings this summer: two cheaper players and one good free (which we've done well in the last few years). Let's say we get two of our bigger signings right and they become solid starters - all of a sudden we are looking at a much stronger squad. That may only mean we move up to 12th place, but that's the reality of where we are in the food chain at the moment. It just takes time (and money), and we need to show some patience.5 -
People seem to expect us to spend 30m and be in the playoffs next season, temper expectations please. Sustainable progress over a mad gamble at promotion is the way we should be and are run.25
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Doubt we get 4 loans Jones tends to do permanents in the summer and then plugs any holes with loans in winter. I think you’re definitely able to get championship quality players for under 3M as well if you have a very good scouting networksam3110 said:
Why? 4 signings, 4 loans, average of £3m a player and that's £12m outlay.scruffle said:
8 players better than what we've got is surely min 18million, completely unrealistic8 new players better than we have?
What do people think our budget will be? £10m? £15m? More?
Maybe it's 3 loans, 3 players for fees and 2 players out of contract, which as proven by Carey and Bell, amongst others, aren't always shit no-one else wants0 -
I would expect a lot of looking abroad for those players in the 3-4m bracket where you'll probably get a bit better value for money. Sichenje coming from Serbia but being a 22yr old full international for £1.5-8m is probably a good precursor.Crispywood said:
Doubt we get 4 loans Jones tends to do permanents in the summer and then plugs any holes with loans in winter. I think you’re definitely able to get championship quality players for under 3M as well if you have a very good scouting networksam3110 said:
Why? 4 signings, 4 loans, average of £3m a player and that's £12m outlay.scruffle said:
8 players better than what we've got is surely min 18million, completely unrealistic8 new players better than we have?
What do people think our budget will be? £10m? £15m? More?
Maybe it's 3 loans, 3 players for fees and 2 players out of contract, which as proven by Carey and Bell, amongst others, aren't always shit no-one else wants
Of course I expect 1-2 domestic signings on free transfers ala Carey too. Haven't bothered looking into who might be available in terms of free agents yet because it's a bit early.0 -
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/championship/endendevertraege/wettbewerb/GB2MarcusH26 said:
I would expect a lot of looking abroad for those players in the 3-4m bracket where you'll probably get a bit better value for money. Sichenje coming from Serbia but being a 22yr old full international for £1.5-8m is probably a good precursor.Crispywood said:
Doubt we get 4 loans Jones tends to do permanents in the summer and then plugs any holes with loans in winter. I think you’re definitely able to get championship quality players for under 3M as well if you have a very good scouting networksam3110 said:
Why? 4 signings, 4 loans, average of £3m a player and that's £12m outlay.scruffle said:
8 players better than what we've got is surely min 18million, completely unrealistic8 new players better than we have?
What do people think our budget will be? £10m? £15m? More?
Maybe it's 3 loans, 3 players for fees and 2 players out of contract, which as proven by Carey and Bell, amongst others, aren't always shit no-one else wants
Of course I expect 1-2 domestic signings on free transfers ala Carey too. Haven't bothered looking into who might be available in terms of free agents yet because it's a bit early.
Quite a lot of decent players coming to the end of their contracts in the Championship, whether any would be keen on a move to Charlton is another question.3 -
Also would Charlton be keen on them?0
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PremMarcusH26 said:
I would expect a lot of looking abroad for those players in the 3-4m bracket where you'll probably get a bit better value for money. Sichenje coming from Serbia but being a 22yr old full international for £1.5-8m is probably a good precursor.Crispywood said:
Doubt we get 4 loans Jones tends to do permanents in the summer and then plugs any holes with loans in winter. I think you’re definitely able to get championship quality players for under 3M as well if you have a very good scouting networksam3110 said:
Why? 4 signings, 4 loans, average of £3m a player and that's £12m outlay.scruffle said:
8 players better than what we've got is surely min 18million, completely unrealistic8 new players better than we have?
What do people think our budget will be? £10m? £15m? More?
Maybe it's 3 loans, 3 players for fees and 2 players out of contract, which as proven by Carey and Bell, amongst others, aren't always shit no-one else wants
Of course I expect 1-2 domestic signings on free transfers ala Carey too. Haven't bothered looking into who might be available in terms of free agents yet because it's a bit early.
Woodman (GK- Liverpool)
Hein (GK- Arsenal)
Gunn (GK- Forest)
Hoever (RWB- Wolves)
Cirkin (LWB- Sunderland)
Laurent (CM- Burnley)
Neil (CM- Sunderland - likely far too good)
Jones (CM- Sunderland)
Champ
Bree (RWB- Southampton)
Burns (RWB/RM/RW- Ipswich)
Swanson (RWB/LWB- Pompey)
Panzo (LCB- Birmingham)
Ogilvie (LCB/LB- Pompey)
Larkeche (LWB- QPR)
Lowe (LWB- Wednesday)
Tronstad (CM- Blackburn- ACL recovery)
Allen (CM- Coventry)
Ingelsson (CM- Wednesday)
Baker (CM- Stoke)
Kayembe (CM- Watford)
Dwomah (CM/CAM- Watford)
Dike (ST- West Brom)
Grant (ST- West Brom)
League 1
Perry NG (RWB - Cardiff)
Joel Bagan (LWB- Cardiff)
Collins (CM- Peterborough)
Adebayo (ST- Luton)
List of free agents that should be viable for Charlton taking into account
positions needed (eg no RCB needed)
Current wages (20k max)
Level (excluded those too good/not good enough for Charlton)
There would also be those under contract that clubs will let walk for free to get them off the bill or for just a sell on eg Coventry/Dykes and prem U21’s who can’t do it in the prem but may do for the championship eg Earthy at West Ham which aren’t on official lists5 -
IF (and its a big if) Kamisnki did go I wouldn't be surprised to see us interested in Hein again. Lowe and Inglesson would probably be smart but half the Championship will be aware of that2
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Id happily take only 12th next season.elbiglad said:
That weak squad will likely finish 15-19th in the Championship this year. A lot of our younger players are hopefully going to benefit from the experience gained during the season. We will of course strengthen in the summer. If you think those players are redundant, then losing them and getting more in will likely mean a stronger squad? Jones and Bell have been two of our best starters and I don't see how them ticking over to 31 and 32 means they will drop off a cliff?Gisappointed said:We have paid fees for Mitchell, Ahadme, Knibbs, Burke, Apter, Olaofe, and Taylor all of whom cost money but are short of the required standard and likely to be loaned/sold/released along with Berry. That's eight redundant players. We have Doc, Macca, JRC who are squad players at best and perhaps five homegrown players yet to make an impact. Four loans/short-termers going out and at least three others in the last year of their contract.
That spells a seriously weak squad next season. Jones, Godden and Bell getting on in years. And are Coventry, Kaminsky, Carey or Kelman of Championship standard?
I do think Coventry, Kaminski, Carey and Kelman are of Championship standard, yes. Perhaps not star players, and maybe not long term, top-level starters but all have shown they are more than good enough on their day(s). For where we are in the league, I think they're all capable of being important players and in the case of Carey, Coventry and Kelman will hopefully improve as they are likely not in their peak. I'm not sure we can say Knibbs is short of the standard - he's hardly had any gametime and still produced three goals. I don't see a world in which he is loaned, sold or released this summer. I'd imagine we keep Burke too.
Squad building and recruitment are the keys to success nowadays, but it involves massive gambles and will see many failures - some of which you've listed above. However, let's say we make three good low-cost signings this summer: two cheaper players and one good free (which we've done well in the last few years). Let's say we get two of our bigger signings right and they become solid starters - all of a sudden we are looking at a much stronger squad. That may only mean we move up to 12th place, but that's the reality of where we are in the food chain at the moment. It just takes time (and money), and we need to show some patience.
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Lucas Mauragis with a beautiful take down and cross to the scorer to put CCM ahead v Brisbane Roar just now. Left back who wants to play abroad.0
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Portsmouth's Aussie signings haven't exactly worked, its a massive leap in qualityswords_alive said:Lucas Maraugis with a beautiful take down and cross to the scorer to put CCM ahead v Brisbane Roar just now. Left back who wants to play abroad.4 -
Yeah I'd be wary of signing Aussies , Irankunda is very much an outlier. Pompey's Aussies have struggled or been injured loadsfenaddick said:
Portsmouth's Aussie signings haven't exactly worked, its a massive leap in qualityswords_alive said:Lucas Maraugis with a beautiful take down and cross to the scorer to put CCM ahead v Brisbane Roar just now. Left back who wants to play abroad.3 -
He didn't come straight from Oz though, spent half a year in Bayern's reserves and then half a season in the Swiss super league.MarcusH26 said:
Yeah I'd be wary of signing Aussies , Irankunda is very much an outlier. Pompey's Aussies have struggled or been injured loadsfenaddick said:
Portsmouth's Aussie signings haven't exactly worked, its a massive leap in qualityswords_alive said:Lucas Maraugis with a beautiful take down and cross to the scorer to put CCM ahead v Brisbane Roar just now. Left back who wants to play abroad.4 -
May find the odd gem but the division is pants Sam Cosgrove has 10 goals in 22 games in the Aussie league, in league 1 he had 18 goals in 125 gamesMarcusH26 said:
Yeah I'd be wary of signing Aussies , Irankunda is very much an outlier. Pompey's Aussies have struggled or been injured loadsfenaddick said:
Portsmouth's Aussie signings haven't exactly worked, its a massive leap in qualityswords_alive said:Lucas Maraugis with a beautiful take down and cross to the scorer to put CCM ahead v Brisbane Roar just now. Left back who wants to play abroad.3 -
If Spurs do go down I wouldn't be surprised to see Lankshear & Donley around their squad tbhMrBurns said:I'd like us to go after Lankshear. Even if it's on loan2 -
Harry Kewell anyone?!MarcusH26 said:
Yeah I'd be wary of signing Aussies , Irankunda is very much an outlier. Pompey's Aussies have struggled or been injured loadsfenaddick said:
Portsmouth's Aussie signings haven't exactly worked, its a massive leap in qualityswords_alive said:Lucas Maraugis with a beautiful take down and cross to the scorer to put CCM ahead v Brisbane Roar just now. Left back who wants to play abroad.
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Got an example from within the last two decades?swords_alive said:
Harry Kewell anyone?!MarcusH26 said:
Yeah I'd be wary of signing Aussies , Irankunda is very much an outlier. Pompey's Aussies have struggled or been injured loadsfenaddick said:
Portsmouth's Aussie signings haven't exactly worked, its a massive leap in qualityswords_alive said:Lucas Maraugis with a beautiful take down and cross to the scorer to put CCM ahead v Brisbane Roar just now. Left back who wants to play abroad.8 -
fenaddick said:
Got an example from within the last two decades?swords_alive said:
Harry Kewell anyone?!MarcusH26 said:
Yeah I'd be wary of signing Aussies , Irankunda is very much an outlier. Pompey's Aussies have struggled or been injured loadsfenaddick said:
Portsmouth's Aussie signings haven't exactly worked, its a massive leap in qualityswords_alive said:Lucas Maraugis with a beautiful take down and cross to the scorer to put CCM ahead v Brisbane Roar just now. Left back who wants to play abroad.
Lyndon Dykes?0 -
I’n guessing we missed out on our 1st 2nd and 3rd choices and ended up gambling on these / relying on targets we had lined up for another league 1 promotion push - however it’s baffling to think that apter or Kelman were seen as fitting jones style full stop. I can’t see any of them hacking it in the championship long term tbh and think we will look to cut our losses - we’ve done very well considering all these signings have floppedNabySarr said:
I’m not sure we expected them to make it. More that we went with a bit of scattergun approach in signing league 1 talent. Carey, Knibbs, Kelman, Apter and Olaofe all came in. I don’t think anyone was expecting them all to make the step up, the hope was probably that at least a couple of them would and that would then be worth the outlay on all 5ShootersHillGuru said:
I think, of course with the benefit of hindsight that the signings of Apter and Olaofe were to be honest expensive mistakes. I think that our thinking was that these two would cut it in The Championship and I personally don’t buy into the notion that they were brought in as long term projects. They cost too much of our budget for them to be thought of as anything but near starters. No idea who scouted them and did the due diligence but it would appear and I think this is reinforced by comments by Bolton fans that Apter seems to have a lazy attitude. No way is he a Jones type player. As for Tanto. He just doesn’t look to be near Championship standard. I’m sure there are a few League One players that could step up. Look at Carey for example but I’d like to think that we won’t be spending probably close to £3 million on players we are not sure will cut it.dmccart32 said:I'm not in any shape criticizing Dykes as I think he's been one of the main reasons (along with our defence) we've got to 49 points, but I do think that if we had say signed someone like Bamford (even though I do dislike him) or Ali Ahmed at Norwich we would probably had been safe by now. However, we are not yet operating at that level in terms of wages etc.
Dykes, Coady, Chambers, Clarke were the best we could do given our position.
Next season I think we potentially won't do as much business as we think we'll do, but I do think that if we are struggling come Jan 2027 we may be in a better position to attract upgrades on our 2026 window.
If we look at summer 2025, Nestory Irankunda's transfer from Bayern Munich to Watford in July 2025, they spent approximately £2.5 million on him and he reportedly earns £15k a week. I know he's been a bit hit and miss this season, but he's rapid and got a great shot on him. Can't help but think he would have been great for us.
Ali Ahmed cost Norwich approx. £2m and is reportedly on £15k a week. 4 goals and 3 assists in 15 games...say no more.
We spent approx. £2m on Apter, I'm sure he's not on £15k a week, but also can't help but think he's got to be on at least to £7-10k
We spent approx. £1.5 on Tanto, again probably on £7-10k a week.
I don't see those as values for out of this world, its about smart business. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I know there are other factors when it comes to attracting players.
But I would have rather we look to spend a bit more on one player than getting two players like Apter and Tanto.
So far Carey is probably already at a value that covers Apter and Olaofe’s fees. Kelman and Knibbs are maybe still tbc, but if Kelman becomes a 10-15 goal a season championship striker over the next 2 years or Knibbs becomes a 10 goal a season attacking midfielder like Carey has done then we will easily be making profit on the 5 as an overall package even if some of them haven’t worked0 -
Kelman won’t be leaving.6
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I’d be concentrating on a whole new midfield 3 and at least one more, ideally 2 TC type players - one of which can play WB - defence, keepers and strike force is good enough - ability to play and create is whats missing4
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I’m sure he won’t but I don’t think he’s up to championship football, certainly not in a Jones team - not physical enoughShootersHillGuru said:Kelman won’t be leaving.1 -
He’s the closest but even he needed a few years in the Scottish Championship which is L1 level at bestLargeAddick said:fenaddick said:
Got an example from within the last two decades?swords_alive said:
Harry Kewell anyone?!MarcusH26 said:
Yeah I'd be wary of signing Aussies , Irankunda is very much an outlier. Pompey's Aussies have struggled or been injured loadsfenaddick said:
Portsmouth's Aussie signings haven't exactly worked, its a massive leap in qualityswords_alive said:Lucas Maraugis with a beautiful take down and cross to the scorer to put CCM ahead v Brisbane Roar just now. Left back who wants to play abroad.
Lyndon Dykes?0 -
I doubt we’d have signed Knibbs, Kelman, Apter etc had we stayed in L1 due to the fees and less reason for them to move clubs.DOUCHER said:
I’n guessing we missed out on our 1st 2nd and 3rd choices and ended up gambling on these / relying on targets we had lined up for another league 1 promotion push - however it’s baffling to think that apter or Kelman were seen as fitting jones style full stop. I can’t see any of them hacking it in the championship long term tbh and think we will look to cut our losses - we’ve done very well considering all these signings have floppedNabySarr said:
I’m not sure we expected them to make it. More that we went with a bit of scattergun approach in signing league 1 talent. Carey, Knibbs, Kelman, Apter and Olaofe all came in. I don’t think anyone was expecting them all to make the step up, the hope was probably that at least a couple of them would and that would then be worth the outlay on all 5ShootersHillGuru said:
I think, of course with the benefit of hindsight that the signings of Apter and Olaofe were to be honest expensive mistakes. I think that our thinking was that these two would cut it in The Championship and I personally don’t buy into the notion that they were brought in as long term projects. They cost too much of our budget for them to be thought of as anything but near starters. No idea who scouted them and did the due diligence but it would appear and I think this is reinforced by comments by Bolton fans that Apter seems to have a lazy attitude. No way is he a Jones type player. As for Tanto. He just doesn’t look to be near Championship standard. I’m sure there are a few League One players that could step up. Look at Carey for example but I’d like to think that we won’t be spending probably close to £3 million on players we are not sure will cut it.dmccart32 said:I'm not in any shape criticizing Dykes as I think he's been one of the main reasons (along with our defence) we've got to 49 points, but I do think that if we had say signed someone like Bamford (even though I do dislike him) or Ali Ahmed at Norwich we would probably had been safe by now. However, we are not yet operating at that level in terms of wages etc.
Dykes, Coady, Chambers, Clarke were the best we could do given our position.
Next season I think we potentially won't do as much business as we think we'll do, but I do think that if we are struggling come Jan 2027 we may be in a better position to attract upgrades on our 2026 window.
If we look at summer 2025, Nestory Irankunda's transfer from Bayern Munich to Watford in July 2025, they spent approximately £2.5 million on him and he reportedly earns £15k a week. I know he's been a bit hit and miss this season, but he's rapid and got a great shot on him. Can't help but think he would have been great for us.
Ali Ahmed cost Norwich approx. £2m and is reportedly on £15k a week. 4 goals and 3 assists in 15 games...say no more.
We spent approx. £2m on Apter, I'm sure he's not on £15k a week, but also can't help but think he's got to be on at least to £7-10k
We spent approx. £1.5 on Tanto, again probably on £7-10k a week.
I don't see those as values for out of this world, its about smart business. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I know there are other factors when it comes to attracting players.
But I would have rather we look to spend a bit more on one player than getting two players like Apter and Tanto.
So far Carey is probably already at a value that covers Apter and Olaofe’s fees. Kelman and Knibbs are maybe still tbc, but if Kelman becomes a 10-15 goal a season championship striker over the next 2 years or Knibbs becomes a 10 goal a season attacking midfielder like Carey has done then we will easily be making profit on the 5 as an overall package even if some of them haven’t worked
We didn’t spend much the summer before, the money we were rumoured to have spent on fees is very similar to the £12-13m (or however much it is) we get from being in the Championship compared to L1.0 -
We need to build the squad gradually, we’re not in a position to go out and buy a whole new team overnight. That’s why last summer’s transfer business is so baffling. We spent around £14m on players who aren’t even getting minutes. Kelman, Apter, Knibbs, Olafe, Kaminski, Rankin‑Costello all signed last summer for fees, and none of them are in the starting XI right now, with two being loaned out already.
For a club in our situation, every penny matters. So who actually sanctioned these signings? They don’t seem to suit Jones’ style at all. And if these were Jones’ choices, are the board really going to hand him another transfer budget when £14m last summer has effectively gone down the drain?
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Next season i'd be more than happy with finishing 14th/15th and being 100% safe at this stage of . Small improvements over the next 3/4 years would do me fine.17
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Agree apart from Kaminsky and JRCRonnieMoore said:
So you get rid of the best keeper in championship that’s the EFL stats sating thatraytreacy said:Players to go Kaminsky. Assimwe, Mitchell Zac and Alex, Taylor, Burke, Anderson, Rankin-Costello, Berry, Ahadme, Oloafe, Leaburn, all the loan players apart from Clarke.0 -
I think if you offered Jones the 3M he used to buy Kelman to get rid of him in the 1st place he would 100% take it but we aren’t going to get an offer that’s worth not persisting with him and hope he comes goodShootersHillGuru said:Kelman won’t be leaving.2 -
I think Kelman has shown enough to hope that he might come good still, he's got plenty of skill and is easily up there with Godden as one of the best finishers we have. If he can bulk up a bit and learn from Godden about the off-the-ball aspects then he's still got potential.Crispywood said:
I think if you offered Jones the 3M he used to buy Kelman to get rid of him in the 1st place he would 100% take it but we aren’t going to get an offer that’s worth not persisting with him and hope he comes goodShootersHillGuru said:Kelman won’t be leaving.
I think it's instructive that Jones kept him around when Olaofe and Apter were packed off in short order.10 -
Well Jones has recently said that Kelman is one of the best finishers he’s ever worked with and we paid a reported £3 million for him. That doesn’t incline me to thinking he’s not in Jones plans.DOUCHER said:
I’m sure he won’t but I don’t think he’s up to championship football, certainly not in a Jones team - not physical enoughShootersHillGuru said:Kelman won’t be leaving.13
