Kandol linked
Leeds United: Robins eye Tres deal
Charlton Athletic hope to take Tresor Kandol off Leeds United's hands before the transfer window closes by finalising a permanent deal to sign the striker.
The London club are aiming to take Kandol back to The Valley after recruiting him on loan from Elland Road for the second half of last season. Kandol scored twice in 13 appearances for Charlton, who finished bottom of the Championship and were relegated in May, and United are willing to listen to approaches for a player who played little part in their pre-season campaign.
The Congolese international started Leeds' friendly at Wealdstone on July 21, scoring in a 2-1 defeat, but the outing was his only appearance of the summer and he was left out of the club's two-match tour of Ireland.
His lack of activity suggests he remains on the very fringes of manager Simon Grayson's plans, and he is not expected to figure in the squad named against Exeter City on Saturday.
Charlton are looking to re-sign Kandol, who is midway through a long-term contract at Elland Road, but a deal is unlikely to be secured until takeover talks at The Valley have been completed.
Charlton's board have been in negotiations with prospective new owners for some time but an agreement has not yet been reached, and the impasse is affecting the club's transfer dealings.
Championship side Barnsley have been attempting to sign former Leeds striker Andy Gray but claimed over the weekend that they had been unable to conclude a deal because of the delay in the sale of Charlton.
A statement released last week by Charlton's directors read: "The sale of a football club is an extremely complex process, and that is why we have been unable to give any concrete timelines as to a possible completion of such a sale."
Kandol, inset, has not been involved with the first team at Elland Road since the 2008 League One play-off final, when he appeared as a substitute, and Leeds were happy to loan him out for the whole of last season.
He joined Millwall for the first half of the term, playing 22 times and scoring eight goals, and then moved to Charlton in January after Millwall opted against extending his temporary deal.
Despite his lack of involvement with Leeds, Kandol is tied to a lengthy deal which does not expire until the summer of 2011.
He secured a long-term contract while Dennis Wise was manager of United in 2007 but neither Gary McAllister nor present boss Simon Grayson have used him regularly.
Grayson has at least four other strikers ahead of Kandol in the selection order at Elland Road, and he made an unsuccessful attempt to sign forward Warren Feeney from Cardiff City last month. The deal for Feeney fell through after the Northern Ireland international failed a medical.
Charlton manager Phil Parkinson made his feelings about Kandol clear in April, saying: "I'd love to sign him permanently. He's been excellent and I think he'll get better as well."
Comments
As he's at Leeds who knows what sort of wages he is on.
Well as Ken Bates signed him (I presume) not that much I would think.
That didn't quite get the coverage of darren bent's twittering then
I only saw it cos the Leeds fans were talking about it. They thought it was quite funny.
LOL
Very few strikers are going to be prolific playing upfront on their own. He will do a reasonable job leading the line and if played in a 4-4-2 will score goals. I'd much prefer him to a Gills reject.
But he got 8 in 18 for Millwall at this level as well
So if we should keep Dixon for his one good spell for Gills when he couldn't score with us then Kandol's two goals, and good goals there were too, justify keeping him.
I think he had a great game v Soton when he really beat up their defence and won a pen as well.
Worth getting if we can afford him IMHO
Dickson certainly didn't look good against Doncaster -- as inept a performance as I've ever seen from a pro footballer.
Not just that one game. Also the game when he scored twice at home and others.
He was on loan in a struggling side.
Not knocking Dixon but he's not done much outside of that purple patch at Gills when mnay of his goals were in the Johnstones paint trophy. He flopped at Crewe and hasn't impressed when given, admittedly often limited, chances by Charlton.
Mark Kinsella was of the view that Gills long ball game suited him better that our passing game so maybe that is why.
Kandol is a different type of player but he has scored goals on a fairly regular basis during his career.
Still, his most recent seasons are the most relevant. At this level he'll get a few, but I don't think he's a natural goalscorer and I wouldn't want us relying on him to score consistently.
IMHO kandol is better suited to that role than burton plus the two can play together in a 442
was that for us or Leeds?
A pretty strong Leeds XI beat a very young Newcastle XI 5-1. Kandol only played the second half and scored a hattrick in 16 mins.
Leeds will want a fee. Until the dreaded TO is resolved he won't be joining us.
Thanks - I think he would be a good signing. He always seemed a bif of a handful last year and worked well with Burton.
Why not?? I'd bring him in - he's better than our other options.