Charlton Athletic’s Lyle Taylor was linked with a summer move to Brentford.
Charlton Athletic boss Lee Bowyer believes it will be impossible to keep Lyle Taylor due to his contract situation despite reportedly managing to fend off a late Brentford bid on deadline day, This Is Local London report.
“I think it will be impossible to keep him. We started discussions [about a new contract] before the deadline, but it’s tough when you have other clubs offering what they do in this division,” Bowyer explained.
“How can we compete? We can’t. If he goes and scores ten goals between now and January, someone will obviously come in with probably more than what they offered in the summer. I’m just thankful we’ve got him now because the owner did us a favour and turned down a big bid for him.”
According to the South London press, Brentford saw four deadline day bids for Taylor turned down by Charlton. The last offer was said to be in the region of £4 million.
Charlton managed to sign Taylor from AFC Wimbledon for nothing. The striker was instrumental in the Addicks’ promotion to the Championship, scoring or making 38 goals in 45 appearances last season.
The 29-year-old has picked up where he left off this season, netting four Championship goals in four games which has seen Charlton pick up a very respectable eight points from their opening set of fixtures.
Taylor’s contract at Charlton expires next summer. On such form, clubs will likely try and prize him away on the cheap in January while there is the option to sign him on a free next summer.
The Addicks lost Joe Aribo, Anfernee Dijksteel and Patrick Bauer this past summer to clubs willing to pay more. The likelihood is they will suffer a similar fate with Taylor over the next 12 months.
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