Summer Window 2026 - Rumours and Discussion

MuttleyCAFC

I think Kelman and Apter still have a lot to offer. They might not have had great seasons but the reasons for us buying them looked obvious at the time and it is because they have something. When we signed Carey I made the comment, shame it wasn't Apter. Him and Kelman were League 1 players I would have put at the top of my list and I was chuffed we got them. Maybe the way we play doesn't suit them We have a list of young players who could potentially make the step up and sometimes it takes a season. I would see Leaburn very much on that list. And Campbell although he is a clear first team player. Not forgetting Fullah as well and Gough has done well wen called upon.

Maybe we need to bring a few in that will compliment a new style. We can't forget Collins either who looked good before his injury and he was definitely thrown in at the deep end.

ShootersHillGuru

MuttleyCAFC said:

I think Kelman and Apter still have a lot to offer. They might not have had great seasons but the reasons for us buying them looked obvious at the time and it is because they have something. When we signed Carey I made the comment, shame it wasn't Apter. Him and Kelman were League 1 players I would have put at the top of my list and I was chuffed we got them. Maybe the way we play doesn't suit them We have a list of young players who could potentially make the step up and sometimes it takes a season. I would see Leaburn very much on that list. And Campbell although he is a clear first team player. Not forgetting Fullah as well and Gough has done well when called upon.

Apter won’t be in Jones plans, of that I’m convinced. He’s got an attitude problem in as much as he won’t put in the required work rate. Bolton fans are scathing of him and Jones got rid as soon as he could. I’d be amazed if we see him in a Charlton first eleven again.

Chris_from_Sidcup

benjest1989 said:

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? 

Kelman top scorer in league one - probably doesn't suit the way Jones plays but not many can argue with signing the top scorer from the league below.
Apter i agree was baffling given he doesn't fit how we play.
Knibbs - good in league one, signed to compete with Carey. Not his fault Carey has been really good.
Olaofe - not bad in league one, local lad. Can see why we signed him but agree he isn't up to it. 
Kaminski - logical signing and Jones knew him.
JRC - can see why we signed him, good experience at this level. Didn't break the bank but hasn't really worked out.

So of those, yes not many have worked out and we definitely need to do better moving forward (Sichenje is hopefully a step in the right direction) but i'd say only Apter was a signing that made no sense.

shine166

Jones literally said he didn't want to stay and battle for his place/the team, pretty sure Apter will never wear a Charlton shirt again.

Callumcafc

Pelling1993 said:

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.

Pending summer activity, 10th to 16th is exactly where I expect us to finish next year. Even with that, there will be periods of bad form and some will question whether we’ve actually made any progress.

Crispywood

I’d still seeing finishing 18th next season as an improvement if we start to see an improvement in style and start to dominate games a bit more next season 

cabbles

Pelling1993 said:

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.

Absolutely 

We need to have a good run of seasons at this level.  We managed 1 when we came up last time and 3 before that, the third resulting in relegation

My earliest memory of supporting us was going at the start of the 88/89 season and then getting relegated the season after to the then 2nd division.  So basically all my childhood/teenage years, we were a staple Championship team until we got promoted in 98.

Given how long we’ve spent in League One over the last 17/18 years, you could argue we’re not an established Championship team anymore.  The game has changed a lot since our stint in the 90s.  We need to get back to those levels and do it consistently and as sustainably as possible 

MarcusH26

Just wondering keeper wise if we'd look abroad again , we were linked to that keeper Noel Tornqvist from Mjallby who ended up at Como so I wonder if despite Scandinavian keepers in the Championship being a bit up and down in terms of success we might look there again. 

ShootersHillGuru

MarcusH26 said:

Just wondering keeper wise if we'd look abroad again , we were linked to that keeper Noel Tornqvist from Mjallby who ended up at Como so I wonder if despite Scandinavian keepers in the Championship being a bit up and down in terms of success we might look there again. 

Not sure quite why we would be looking.

MarcusH26

ShootersHillGuru said:

MarcusH26 said:

Just wondering keeper wise if we'd look abroad again , we were linked to that keeper Noel Tornqvist from Mjallby who ended up at Como so I wonder if despite Scandinavian keepers in the Championship being a bit up and down in terms of success we might look there again. 

Not sure quite why we would be looking.

Not convinced Kaminski is going to stay around and you wouldn't want to just have Mannion and Brooks. 

I know it's not high on the list of priorities but I could see it needing to be something to be looked at. 

RonnieMoore

MarcusH26 said:

ShootersHillGuru said:

MarcusH26 said:

Just wondering keeper wise if we'd look abroad again , we were linked to that keeper Noel Tornqvist from Mjallby who ended up at Como so I wonder if despite Scandinavian keepers in the Championship being a bit up and down in terms of success we might look there again. 

Not sure quite why we would be looking.

Not convinced Kaminski is going to stay around and you wouldn't want to just have Mannion and Brooks. 

I know it's not high on the list of priorities but I could see it needing to be something to be looked at. 

Kaminski going no where .. we don’t need to waste money on another keeper when we have 3 already 

LargeAddick

Kelman has scored six league goals in a disrupted season, periods on the bench and without a proper pre season.

I’m assuming if people are happy to see him go then on that basis Leaburn and Campbell should be out the door ahead of him.

KiwiValley

Keep our spine of Alex Mitchell,  Terry Taylor, and Gassan Ahadme and offload the rest…

MartinCAFC

Some very ambitious shouts of where we might finish next season, sorry but can’t see us winning 1-0 eight times again nor keeping 13+ clean sheets.

Think next season needs to be about survival again while hopefully Jones is able to complete the squad so we have 2 natural quality options in each position and the flexibility to go between 5-3-2 and 4-2-3-1 which should see us safe but I wouldn’t be predicting mid table finishes just yet. Probably 18th place again unless we can add real top end quality into the team to kick us on.

Sage

Think we need to be ruthless with some decisions if we are to move forward in the trajectory the club wants to go. We have an extremely bloated squad that needs trimming and quality needs adding.

Keepers: unless anything changes with Kaminski, I see all 3 being with us next season.

Defenders: I’d look to sell both Mitchell’s and Gillesphey. Say thank you very much but we need better moving forward. For me, Asiimwe also should go, he can’t hold down a spot in the AFC Wimbledon team, he’s not likely to impact us going forward. Chambers will go back, I’d like us to sign Clarke permanently. Ramsay needs to sign a new contract or we’ll sell him too. Burke would leave if he didn’t have longer on his contract.

Midfielders: Taylor is going, I’d let Berry go, I’d also look to sell Anderson and Docherty. We need athleticism but we need quality, I don’t see either being top half quality which is what we should be looking for. Fevrier will go back and it’s about assessing what Apter is going to do. Again I could see him leave. Jones has said Rakin-Costello is vital for us long term so he’s going nowhere. Knibbs needs game time but he needs to also show a bit more when on the pitch.

Forwards: Ahadme will leave, I also think Dykes will too. We should be looking at ensuring the pathway for Mbick is clear and despite Dykes doing very well for us, I either want better or to not block Mbick. I’d keep Godden, he’s the only true striker we have who can do what he does and his game is not about pace. He’s so clever. TC will have his extension and Leaburn signed a new deal last summer so is here to stay and think will only get better. Tanto needs assessing because he is the right profile for what we need but is he going to do it for us? Kanu has scored loads and done incredibly well, but is he going to step up? We also need more players in the TC type, players who can really get at opponents, have real pace and cause problems. We need at least another one of those.

There is so much to sort out this summer, it’s going to be interesting. Can see something like this, maybe?

Kaminski, Mannion, Brooks

Clarke, New (say Bree for arguments sake)
Ramsay, Sichenje
Jones, Burke
Bell, New
Edwards, New

New, Coventry
New, Rakin-Costello
Carey, Knibbs
New, Fullah

Godden, Kelman
Leaburn, Mbick
New, TC

That’s a 27 man squad with youngsters like Fullah and Mbick not needing to be registered, I believe. You’d then have players like Kanu, Apter, and Tanto either out on loan or sold. 

wolfgang

MarcusH26 said:

Not convinced Kaminski is going to stay around 

Where could Kaminski remotely match what we are paying him?

Alwaysneil

Cant see NJ moving on next year from home grown:

Assimwe; Anderson; TC; Leaburn; Fullah; Gough; Mbick; Enslin; Kanu

Some of these out on loan again.

Oot the door for:

Mitchells; Tanto; Apter; Berry (hopefully); Kaminski (can't see him hanging around as a no.1.5); Chambers; Taylor; Ahadme; Gillesphey 

Hope to see new deals for:

Ramsay; Clarke; Dykes; Coady; Godden; 

Hope we get an improvement/competition for but can still see hanging around:

Docherty; Carey; Knibbs; Rankin-Costello; Coventry

Happy with:

Mannion; Kelman; Jones; Sichenje

Really need to bolster:

LWB x 2, attacking RWB with pace and crossing ability, central midfield with an eye for a forward pass.

Ideally would add a guaranteed top striker but given breadth of striking options hope at least one of ours comes good next year so less concerned about that. 

CharltonManor1966

NabySarr said:

801912601 said:

As this is a rumours thread I was told last night that a current championship top 6 club wanted to buy TC in January for £4M. TC was keen to go but it was blocked by the club. Lord knows whether true or not 🤔 

Surely Nathan Jones and championship recruitment teams don't know more than our fans who say he's shit?

Not shit. Just not good enough.
If we get offered 4 mill take it.
I hope whatever happens with Coady and Dykes that we use the loan market well in the summer to bring in Champ quality and experience. Very much hope we can somehow get another tear out of Godden.
Emphasis has to be on creative midfield 

ShootersHillGuru

Sage said:

Think we need to be ruthless with some decisions if we are to move forward in the trajectory the club wants to go. We have an extremely bloated squad that needs trimming and quality needs adding.

Keepers: unless anything changes with Kaminski, I see all 3 being with us next season.

Defenders: I’d look to sell both Mitchell’s and Gillesphey. Say thank you very much but we need better moving forward. For me, Asiimwe also should go, he can’t hold down a spot in the AFC Wimbledon team, he’s not likely to impact us going forward. Chambers will go back, I’d like us to sign Clarke permanently. Ramsay needs to sign a new contract or we’ll sell him too. Burke would leave if he didn’t have longer on his contract.

Midfielders: Taylor is going, I’d let Berry go, I’d also look to sell Anderson and Docherty. We need athleticism but we need quality, I don’t see either being top half quality which is what we should be looking for. Fevrier will go back and it’s about assessing what Apter is going to do. Again I could see him leave. Jones has said Rakin-Costello is vital for us long term so he’s going nowhere. Knibbs needs game time but he needs to also show a bit more when on the pitch.

Forwards: Ahadme will leave, I also think Dykes will too. We should be looking at ensuring the pathway for Mbick is clear and despite Dykes doing very well for us, I either want better or to not block Mbick. I’d keep Godden, he’s the only true striker we have who can do what he does and his game is not about pace. He’s so clever. TC will have his extension and Leaburn signed a new deal last summer so is here to stay and think will only get better. Tanto needs assessing because he is the right profile for what we need but is he going to do it for us? Kanu has scored loads and done incredibly well, but is he going to step up? We also need more players in the TC type, players who can really get at opponents, have real pace and cause problems. We need at least another one of those.

There is so much to sort out this summer, it’s going to be interesting. Can see something like this, maybe?

Kaminski, Mannion, Brooks

Clarke, New (say Bree for arguments sake)
Ramsay, Sichenje
Jones, Burke
Bell, New
Edwards, New

New, Coventry
New, Rakin-Costello
Carey, Knibbs
New, Fullah

Godden, Kelman
Leaburn, Mbick
New, TC

That’s a 27 man squad with youngsters like Fullah and Mbick not needing to be registered, I believe. You’d then have players like Kanu, Apter, and Tanto either out on loan or sold. 

Agree wholeheartedly with this and one sentence absolutely jumps out. “I’d keep Godden, He’s the only true striker we have”. This for me is a problem that’s largely being overlooked. Yes I agree with the wing backs and midfield recruitment but despite promise, both Leaburn and Kelman have question marks over them in The Championship. Mbick is an unknown quantity at this point. We must make sure we can score more goals and I’d say the striker position is just as much of a priority as the other two.

Rothko

Kelman will be better with a midfielder who can pass forward in the final third

ShootersHillGuru

Observation really but I’ve always been a bit surprised that we don’t and by we I mean this country doesn’t see more recruitment from Germany. Not many question marks over ability to adapt to English football and there’s plenty of quality in the German top two tiers. Would think that The Championship could compete in wages with probably half at least of The Bundesliga clubs. 

MarcusH26

ShootersHillGuru said:

Observation really but I’ve always been a bit surprised that we don’t and by we I mean this country doesn’t see more recruitment from Germany. Not many question marks over ability to adapt to English football and there’s plenty of quality in the German top two tiers. Would think that The Championship could compete in wages with probably half at least of The Bundesliga clubs. 

Norwich tried it a few times under Daniel Farke with mixed results. The big hit from the Bundesliga this season has been Leo Scienza at Southampton who looks absolutely quality. 

Stu_of_Kunming

ShootersHillGuru said:

Observation really but I’ve always been a bit surprised that we don’t and by we I mean this country doesn’t see more recruitment from Germany. Not many question marks over ability to adapt to English football and there’s plenty of quality in the German top two tiers. Would think that The Championship could compete in wages with probably half at least of The Bundesliga clubs. 

Loads have players have moved from Germany and been absolute toilet. The champ is much faster and more physical than the Bundesliga 

DOUCHER

LargeAddick said:

Kelman has scored six league goals in a disrupted season, periods on the bench and without a proper pre season.

I’m assuming if people are happy to see him go then on that basis Leaburn and Campbell should be out the door ahead of him.

i'm happy to trust my eyes and not worry about stats 

killerandflash

LargeAddick said:

Kelman has scored six league goals in a disrupted season, periods on the bench and without a proper pre season.

I’m assuming if people are happy to see him go then on that basis Leaburn and Campbell should be out the door ahead of him.

Leaburn and Campbell both offer more elsewhere than Kelman, especially in a NJ team. Kelman doesn't offer that much, other than his finishing.

If we had a creative No 10, playing defence splitting through balls, then Kelman might thrive, but we don't have that sort of player, and I'd be surprised if we massively upgrade there next season, when we already have Carey and Knibbs.

As we lump it up front, it's crucial we have some physical presence up there, hence Dykes being almost every present since he joined. Leaburn offers that too.

Campbell stretches defences, he's the one outlet we have, someone who can run with the ball, and attract defenders.

Kelman has been in the match squad 34 times this season, and been on the bench for exactly half of them. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement. 

Covered_End_Lad

I agree with others that Kelman has suffered due to our style, look at how he performed in an Orient side that played to his strengths. Our key focus needs to be on a creative midfield player to unlock the strengths of our other players.

DOUCHER

Kelman is obviously a good finisher - we've seen him do it in flashes and clearly did it last year but godden is a great finisher but can also do all the other side of the game that kelman has shown no evidence of being able to do - or even try to do - he's the complete opposite to someone like coburn at millwall - a clearly terrible finisher/ striker but a bit of a nuisance in a team that doesn't play much football - that's the sort of player who is more valuable to us atm. Not that i'm advocating signing coburn - he seems to have had a decent spell recently but will never be a striker in a successful team that achieves anything - thankfully. 

RonnieMoore

wolfgang said:

MarcusH26 said:

Not convinced Kaminski is going to stay around 

Where could Kaminski remotely match what we are paying him?

Only paying him 14k a week
so he would get more at most championship sides 

RonnieMoore

killerandflash said:

LargeAddick said:

Kelman has scored six league goals in a disrupted season, periods on the bench and without a proper pre season.

I’m assuming if people are happy to see him go then on that basis Leaburn and Campbell should be out the door ahead of him.

Leaburn and Campbell both offer more elsewhere than Kelman, especially in a NJ team. Kelman doesn't offer that much, other than his finishing.

If we had a creative No 10, playing defence splitting through balls, then Kelman might thrive, but we don't have that sort of player, and I'd be surprised if we massively upgrade there next season, when we already have Carey and Knibbs.

As we lump it up front, it's crucial we have some physical presence up there, hence Dykes being almost every present since he joined. Leaburn offers that too.

Campbell stretches defences, he's the one outlet we have, someone who can run with the ball, and attract defenders.

Kelman has been in the match squad 34 times this season, and been on the bench for exactly half of them. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement. 

He had two assists that spring to mind Derby away and Bristol ,might be one or two more  when Campbell had 3 assists and Kelman scored more then Campbell and you say Campbell offers more ??? 

Stu_of_Kunming

RonnieMoore said:

killerandflash said:

LargeAddick said:

Kelman has scored six league goals in a disrupted season, periods on the bench and without a proper pre season.

I’m assuming if people are happy to see him go then on that basis Leaburn and Campbell should be out the door ahead of him.

Leaburn and Campbell both offer more elsewhere than Kelman, especially in a NJ team. Kelman doesn't offer that much, other than his finishing.

If we had a creative No 10, playing defence splitting through balls, then Kelman might thrive, but we don't have that sort of player, and I'd be surprised if we massively upgrade there next season, when we already have Carey and Knibbs.

As we lump it up front, it's crucial we have some physical presence up there, hence Dykes being almost every present since he joined. Leaburn offers that too.

Campbell stretches defences, he's the one outlet we have, someone who can run with the ball, and attract defenders.

Kelman has been in the match squad 34 times this season, and been on the bench for exactly half of them. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement. 

He had two assists that spring to mind Derby away and Bristol ,might be one or two more  when Campbell had 3 assists and Kelman scored more then Campbell and you say Campbell offers more ??? 

Elsewhere.