www.kentonline.co.uk/charlton
[cite]Addicks closing in on striker deal .... by Tony Hudd[/cite]
CHARLTON are set to complete the signing of a striker within the next 48 hours with the player expected to make his debut in Saturday's friendly at home to Portuguese club Sporting Braga.
Manager Alan Pardew confirmed the club were in negotiations with a player and disclosed: "We're close on a striker and hopefully we'll do something in the next 48 hours."
He would not be drawn on the identity of the player, though the Addicks have been strongly linked with former England and Manchester United striker Andrew Cole.
Cole, 36 in October, is in dispute with Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp after being excluded from the club's trip to Hong Kong.
Redknapp is keen on Charlton midfielder Amdy Faye and the Addicks are willing to use him as a makeweight in any deal, though Cole's wages of £30,000 a week may prove prohibitive.
Charlton's need to sharpen their attack has been increased by an ankle injury to Luke Varney which will keep him out for the start of the league season.
"Luke's injury has become a bit of an issue for us because it's left us short of strikers, which is not ideal at this stage," Pardew added.
Pardew also confirmed that he was in the market for a central midfielder with West Ham's Hayden Mullins fitting the bill for the holding role the manager favours.
Not keen on getting in Andrew Cole personally ... but if Faye moves in the other way, wey hey.
Comments
who else ? Killer
Would rather him than Fowler though.
no pleasing you is there.... ;-)
You're right, WSS, I am very difficult to please. I change my mind sometimes too - a women's prerogative, I believe.
That's what I thought but let's wait and see. Tony Hudd is normally on the money with these things
Kluivert ;-)
I think it's more like the fact that it is us that are desperate to pay someone, anyone to take Faye off our hands.......
McLeod played Wednesday night against Watford. Not sure about Cole but got to be better than JFH. If we'd signed Cole after PDC had left, rather than after JFH left, then people would be much more optimistic about Cole signing, but now some fans are worried that we could have another fat, useless tosser on our hands.
Damn you Varney! Answer my text message!
Are you Pards spin doctor? ;-)
He still scored a few goals last season
Now he'll need twenty!!!!!
Oh please no, Andy Cole in Charlton shirt.................nearly as bad as that tw@t reject from the Spanners.
I'll gladly eat my hat if turns out to be anything other than a complete waste of football boots.
agreed apart from the spanners bit!