Summer Window 2026 - Rumours and Discussion

LargeAddick · June 2

Diebythesword said:

IdleHans said:

How does first refusal work in the real world?
We might agree a few with club but the player might just say no thanks and surely that's that?

Exactly. Not worth the paper it’s written on, which is why “first refusal” never happens.

James Trafford?

000__Jaaaaay__000 · June 2

covered_end_junior said:

If Kanu is happy to sign a new deal and be loaned out to league 1 then I’d be doing that.

I’d only sell him if he refuses to sign a new deal and even then I think we should have some sort of buy back clause in there.

It’s all well and good saying that but if he flops at league 1 level and has to drop back down to league 2, then we will get nowhere near the million it will probably go up to this year. At the end of the day, we aren’t in a position to be gambling on that working out and that million could be used in strengthening the squad which is desperately needed

WSS · June 2

000__Jaaaaay__000 said:

covered_end_junior said:

If Kanu is happy to sign a new deal and be loaned out to league 1 then I’d be doing that.

I’d only sell him if he refuses to sign a new deal and even then I think we should have some sort of buy back clause in there.

It’s all well and good saying that but if he flops at league 1 level and has to drop back down to league 2, then we will get nowhere near the million it will probably go up to this year. At the end of the day, we aren’t in a position to be gambling on that working out and that million could be used in strengthening the squad which is desperately needed

And yet strengthening the squad is a gamble as well. You only have to look at last summer.

Hindsight is the only winner in these scenarios.

Athletico Charlton · June 2

000__Jaaaaay__000 said:

covered_end_junior said:

If Kanu is happy to sign a new deal and be loaned out to league 1 then I’d be doing that.

I’d only sell him if he refuses to sign a new deal and even then I think we should have some sort of buy back clause in there.

It’s all well and good saying that but if he flops at league 1 level and has to drop back down to league 2, then we will get nowhere near the million it will probably go up to this year. At the end of the day, we aren’t in a position to be gambling on that working out and that million could be used in strengthening the squad which is desperately needed

With that logic, we shouldn't be gambling with MBick and should take whatever Brighton offer. Maybe when RD sold Konsa for £1M he was a visionary as to keep him was to gamble on a fee we might not have got again if he hadn't worked out

arny23394 · June 2

000__Jaaaaay__000 said:

covered_end_junior said:

If Kanu is happy to sign a new deal and be loaned out to league 1 then I’d be doing that.

I’d only sell him if he refuses to sign a new deal and even then I think we should have some sort of buy back clause in there.

It’s all well and good saying that but if he flops at league 1 level and has to drop back down to league 2, then we will get nowhere near the million it will probably go up to this year. At the end of the day, we aren’t in a position to be gambling on that working out and that million could be used in strengthening the squad which is desperately needed

He looked good at times in 23/24 and that was in a dreadful league 1 team. You’d hope/expect him to have a good season now he’s 3 years older and got a full season of men’s football under his belt.

Gisappointed · June 2

arny23394 said:

000__Jaaaaay__000 said:

covered_end_junior said:

If Kanu is happy to sign a new deal and be loaned out to league 1 then I’d be doing that.

I’d only sell him if he refuses to sign a new deal and even then I think we should have some sort of buy back clause in there.

It’s all well and good saying that but if he flops at league 1 level and has to drop back down to league 2, then we will get nowhere near the million it will probably go up to this year. At the end of the day, we aren’t in a position to be gambling on that working out and that million could be used in strengthening the squad which is desperately needed

He looked good at times in 23/24 and that was in a dreadful league 1 team. You’d hope/expect him to have a good season now he’s 3 years older and got a full season of men’s football under his belt.

He is also now a big unit who is not going to get eased off the ball by bigger defenders.

Exiled_Addick · June 2

Obviously, it'll come down to what Kanu wants for himself but, from Charlton's perspective, I think the club would be mad to do anything other than try to sign him up to an extended deal and give him some more time to develop.

Yeah, yeah, it was "only" League 2 but, bottom line, he's just had an excellent season that shows he has a great chance of making it. After we have invested years into him in the academy, it'd be short-sighted not to give it another couple of years to see if he can make it here. I hope we can agree some kind of extension, give him a proper opportunity to impress during pre-season, and then if he isn't quite there yet, we leave it late to send him out on loan, with an option to recall him in January. I'm sure there will be plenty of takers in League One.

I get why people don't see him having the same high ceiling as some of other graduates because he doesn't have quite the same natural skill as some, but he knows where the net is, has enough strength and pace to hold his own and a first-class attitude and work rate. That last part is perhaps the most important - plenty of very naturally talented players fail to have good careers in comparison to less gifted players who want it and work their nuts off to get it.

Players like that were the bedrock of Curbs' success and I think NJ has a similar high valuation of those characteristics. I think, as long as there is enough budget to allow it, NJ will want to be patient and give the likes of Kanu, TC, and Karoy every chance to realise their potential here. If he were to "lose patience with" and try to cash in on any of our current crop of recent academy graduates, I think Leaburn might be the one, but I don't think for a second that NJ has given up on Miles yet either.

wolfgang · June 2

I would like to compliment posters here for putting their arguments for and against in such a constructive and good-tempered manner.

I think the deciding factor will be, how much money the owners are prepared to put in, and as a consequence how short-term, medium-term, or long-term our planning must be.

golfaddick · June 2

Kanu is this year's Leaburn.

Sorry to say that I'd rather spend money & buy a proven Championship striker than take a gamble on another youngster with no Championship experience.

Yes, I know that costs money but I'm.afraid that is what it takes.

SteveACS · June 3

eastterrace6168 said:

Southampton's owner on Radio Solent this morning saying he has no intention of sacking as he called him " a great manager" who made a "mistake", talk about deluded, he should be sacked now, and given a ban on managing in England again...

The management of Canada involved in spying on New Zealand in the last women's world cup were all banned from football for a year.

There's the precedent.

wmcf123 · June 3

golfaddick said:

Kanu is this year's Leaburn.

Sorry to say that I'd rather spend money & buy a proven Championship striker than take a gamble on another youngster with no Championship experience.

Yes, I know that costs money but I'm.afraid that is what it takes.

Proven championship strikers are unlikely to come to us, both financially and due to our style of play. I’d be quite happy with Kanu as 4th or 5th choice next season, with Kelman, Godden and AN other , or a fully fit and raring Leaburn. I think there are goals there as long as we can find a couple of midfielders and better wing backs .

charente addick · June 3

golfaddick said:

Kanu is this year's Leaburn.

Sorry to say that I'd rather spend money & buy a proven Championship striker than take a gamble on another youngster with no Championship experience.

Yes, I know that costs money but I'm.afraid that is what it takes.

I still think, if he can stay fit and is given a run in the team, that Leaburn has all the attributes to be a good Championship striker.

Bailey · June 3

golfaddick said:

Kanu is this year's Leaburn.

Sorry to say that I'd rather spend money & buy a proven Championship striker than take a gamble on another youngster with no Championship experience.

Yes, I know that costs money but I'm.afraid that is what it takes.

Got to agree with this. You cannot go into a championship season with a maybe, in any position, but in a team that doesn't score enough goals the need for a quality finisher is probably a no brainer. Charlton have a problem in the forward positions, lots of quantity and very little quality, if Dykes re-signs then Dykes with cover from Leaburn and Godden with cover from Kelman or visa versa, would be virtually the same as last season and once again we would struggle up front, if we bring in a forward to correct that, then question marks over Kanu and Leaburn would emerge, loans for those two and Gasman are a must and I'm sorry but if Brighton renew their interest in Mbick and any sale helps us to bring quality to the squad, then it will probably happen.

Scoham · June 3

Kanu, Leaburn and TC are three players who shouldn’t be written off too early. Not every player needs to smash the Championship in their first season or by the age of 21.

The most recent example is Vipotnik scoring 7 for Swansea last season despite plenty of appearances, this season he scored 23.

They all have areas to improve on, but strengthening our midfield and wing backs so we create more as a team will make a difference too.

ForeverAddickted · June 3

golfaddick said:

Kanu is this year's Leaburn.

Sorry to say that I'd rather spend money & buy a proven Championship striker than take a gamble on another youngster with no Championship experience.

Yes, I know that costs money but I'm.afraid that is what it takes.

We've got Strikers, we need players who'll create chances for them - Can have all the Strikes we want, but our chance creation was what was low last season - What is a proven Championship Striker anyway, where is the guarantee that they'll work out for us... See Tamar Hemed, or Jordan Rhodes @ Middlesbrough.

The Championship top scorer last season, joined from Ligue 1 the year before...

Henry Irving · June 3

golfaddick said:

Kanu is this year's Leaburn.

Sorry to say that I'd rather spend money & buy a proven Championship striker than take a gamble on another youngster with no Championship experience.

Yes, I know that costs money but I'm.afraid that is what it takes.

It's not an either/or situation.

We should TRY to sign experienced players for this level AND keep young players with potential.

No, we can't keep everyone for budget and squad size reasons but I don't think we should let Kanu go just yet.

If the 21 YO league 2 young POTY, who scored 18 goals last season but had no previous connection to us, was signed on a free transfer there wouldn't be a meltdown on here. The club would be praised for ambitious scouting.

supaclive · June 3

My mate's son is very good friends with Dan Kanu. I've asked the question

BigRedEvil · June 3

I'd keep Kanu think he has potential. Leaburn is the one who seems to have gone off the boil

DubaiCAFC · June 3

Kanu want's to play week in and week out. And might want a fresh start, which sounds like he wants.. So let him go! Nice sell-on..

He could sign, have a poor season, or get injured and leave cheaper next year.

I think if we want to do anything in the Championship, we need better!

John_Fitzpatrick1 · June 3

Judging by Jones’ comments on articles about being “ruthless”. I would imagine we will offload Kanu.

Risk for not doing so and doing so. But I think we should cash in.

Athletico Charlton · June 3

DubaiCAFC said:

Kanu want's to play week in and week out. And might want a fresh start, which sounds like he wants.. So let him go! Nice sell-on..

He could sign, have a poor season, or get injured and leave cheaper next year.

I think if we want to do anything in the Championship, we need better!

A sell on if you let M'bick go to a Brentford or Brighton I absolutely get.

For any sell on to be worth much when selling to a L1 club, he would need to do very well at L1 level, get promoted with that club and then do very well in the Championship.

If he went to say, Luton, scored 20 goals in his first season but they were not promoted he would take the next step to a Championship club for about £3M I suspect.

shine166 · June 3

The issue is and has always been, that we are a selling club and have to do so to progress. Thats either your best players or some of the prospects and you can't keep all of the prospects just incase they can battle for a place in 2 seasons. If we were currently a league 1 club, we'd probably have cashed in Mbick and offered Kanu a contract to battle for a starting place this coming season.

Unfortunately thats not the case and there are not may other assets we can use to raise funds to push on in our current situation.

cafcsinger · June 3

Kanu to stay with us and score 10 goals this season in Championship and be worth 5m+ next season. Mark my words!

jose · June 3

I know it’s a bit wussy, and a denial of football reality, but I simply cringe when our players, well especially our academy products, are regarded as mere units or products that are either there to exploit or are easily disposable.
The recent CAST webinar from our academy leadership had an impact on me (as has ‘Dear England’ the play and TV series).

ShootersHillGuru · June 3

golfaddick said:

Kanu is this year's Leaburn.

Sorry to say that I'd rather spend money & buy a proven Championship striker than take a gamble on another youngster with no Championship experience.

Yes, I know that costs money but I'm.afraid that is what it takes.

Is it that binary though ? I totally agree we need to invest in a proven striker and you’re right we need to spend big on it but does that prevent us from signing Kanu on a better deal and perhaps loaning him again or perhaps even have him in and around our squad. If Luton as reported are prepared to pay £750k now then I think DK is an asset we might want to develop further.

NabySarr · June 3

Bailey said:

golfaddick said:

Kanu is this year's Leaburn.

Sorry to say that I'd rather spend money & buy a proven Championship striker than take a gamble on another youngster with no Championship experience.

Yes, I know that costs money but I'm.afraid that is what it takes.

Got to agree with this. You cannot go into a championship season with a maybe, in any position, but in a team that doesn't score enough goals the need for a quality finisher is probably a no brainer. Charlton have a problem in the forward positions, lots of quantity and very little quality, if Dykes re-signs then Dykes with cover from Leaburn and Godden with cover from Kelman or visa versa, would be virtually the same as last season and once again we would struggle up front, if we bring in a forward to correct that, then question marks over Kanu and Leaburn would emerge, loans for those two and Gasman are a must and I'm sorry but if Brighton renew their interest in Mbick and any sale helps us to bring quality to the squad, then it will probably happen.

Depends if you think the strikers are the problem. Are any of them poor finishers? I think TC is a poor finisher (but offers a lot more other qualities), but the rest are at the very least average finishers but some (Godden and Kelman) very good finishers. If we sign new wing backs and midfielders, and become a better team that gets them more chances, then they will score more goals. If you put Vipotnik into our team
last season, I doubt he does much better than what we had

I’d be ok with Kelman, TC, Dykes, Leaburn, Godden as options again this season. 3 of them had little or no championship experience last season, so you’d think would be much better for it this season.

Sometimes it can be about developing players we have rather than always signing new ones. In fact there’s probably no way that we are going to be able to sign our way to the top, we need to be able to develop players and make them top championship players

ShootersHillGuru · June 3

I think if we start with those options up front next season we’re in for another relegation battle.

fenaddick · June 3

ShootersHillGuru said:

I think if we start with those options up front next season we’re in for another relegation battle.

I think you have to assume we will be regardless, anything above that is overachievement. The second season is really hard in a new division

jondon76 · June 3

Lyndon Gooch is available from Sunderland, would be a good signing imo.

letthegoodtimesroll · June 3

danny777 said:

Wy Grant reports that Luton have apparently offered £750K for Kanu
https://addickschampionshipdiary.blogspot.com/2026/06/luton-swoop-for-kanu.html

They took Paul Walsh from us for peanuts when we needed money and later sold him on to Liverpool. Kanu may not be another Paul Walsh but I wouldn’t sell him to Luton unless the numbers were in multiples of millions.

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