Championship duo Middlesbrough and Bristol City are interested in Charlton Athletic defender Dijksteel, according to Lee Bowyer.
Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer has claimed that Middlesbrough and Bristol City are interested in signing Addicks starlet Anfernee Dijksteel, speaking to the club’s official website.
The Valley has become a prosperous breeding ground for some of the brightest young talents in the Football League in recent years. Joe Gomez, Ademola Lookman, Joe Aribo and Karlan Grant have all made their name in Charlton colours in recent years and Dijksteel looks set to follow in their footsteps in the near future.
At the age of 22, the Netherlands U20 international has already played almost 60 games at senior level and he was a regular in a Charlton team who sealed promotion from League One last season.
Charlton have lost both Grant and Aribo since the turn of the year and Bowyer has now admitted that Dijksteel too is attracting plenty of interest.
“With Anfernee, Middlesbrough came in. The owner said he’s not for sale, we’ve spoken to the owner and explained the situation, Middlesbrough’s come in again and Bristol City are interested as well,” said the former Leeds and Newcastle midfielder.
“He’s another young lad that’s only had one full season last season and now, all of a sudden, clubs are interested. Its shows that the work we’re doing here behind the scenes is good!”
A centre-half or defensive midfielder, Dijksteel has a decision to make.
The chance to work under Jonathan Woodgate, a top class defender in his day who represented the likes of Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur, should appeal while Bristol City manager Lee Johnson is one of the best around when it comes to helping youngsters realise their potential.
But with Charlton preparing for their first season back in the Championship, they won’t let another academy graduate leave without a fight.
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