A new Addicks priority is highlighted by Charlton’s response to a late Derby County deal.
Corey Blackett-Taylor was seemingly in demand this summer
When Charlton Athletic declined Derby County’s offer for winger Corey Blackett-Taylor, they made the right choice. Selling him to a competitor would have hurt their own team because he has been a key player and has started every league game.
Blackett-Taylor’s current contract is coming to an end, therefore Charlton are now faced with a contract issue with him. They must either sign a new contract or risk losing him for nothing over the summer, which might force them to settle for a lower salary in January.
In order to either retain Blackett-Taylor for the long term or demand a larger transfer price if they decide to sell him, Charlton must resolve the contract issue. After the closure of, this should now be the club’s first focus.
Charlton Athletic made the right decision when they turned down Derby County’s offer for winger Corey Blackett-Taylor. Because he has been an important player and has started every league game, selling him to a rival would have been detrimental to their own squad.
Charlton are now dealing with a contract dispute with Blackett-Taylor as his current deal is about to expire. They might be forced to accept a lower wage in January if they don’t agree to a new contract or risk losing him for nothing over the summer.
Charlton must address the contract issue in order to either keep Blackett-Taylor for the long term or demand a higher transfer fee if they choose to move him. This should now be the club’s focus following the closure of
Charlton’s response to Derby’s interest in Blackett-Taylor was the proper one.
Given the current circumstances, it does seem like Charlton made the right choice by refusing to approve Blackett-Taylor’s transfer to Pride Park.
Blackett-Taylor has played a vital role for the Addicks since joining them in the summer of 2021. In 75 appearances across all competitions, he has contributed nine assists and scored 11 goals, demonstrating his value to the team moving forward.
In fact, the 25-year-old has started each of Charlton’s six league games this season, which does appear to support the idea that he is a crucial member of this team.
Since he still appears to have a significant role to play at The Valley, it wouldn’t make sense for Charlton to let him go, especially since allowing him to join Derby would boost a League One opponent.
You also have the impression that the Addicks may have wanted some continuity in their wide areas by keeping Blackett-Taylor, especially with Diallang Jayisemi leaving on another season-long loan, this time to St Johnstone, and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi returning to Crystal Palace after a successful loan stint last season.
Although maintaining Blackett-Taylor may indicate that Charlton made the right decision, now that the transfer window has closed, it appears that they now have another problem to resolve.
The state of Blackett-Taylor’s contract worries Charlton.
Blackett-Taylor is currently in the final year of his current deal at The Valley, which puts more pressure on Charlton to respond to any potential interest in the winger in the future.
If a new contract cannot be reached between the club and the player, the January transfer window will now be Charlton’s final opportunity to collect a sum of money in exchange for selling Blackett-Taylor.
Given that they turned down Derby’s offer and appear hesitant to let him go, they might be compelled to accept a lower price for him.
January, since they will surely want to at least get something for him, will be a concern.
Indeed, clubs will be aware of Blackett-Taylor’s situation, and given the interest there has been in him, it would be little surprise if sides were not to try and make a move for him again either in January or when they can get him for free in the summer, in order to test Charlton’s resolve.
As a result, it seems that a new contract for the 25-year-old needs to be on the agenda at The Valley, to ensure that they can either keep him long term, or command a more sizeable fee for his sale if they are to let him go anytime soon.
With all that in mind, given the issue of transfer business is now done until January, and the search for a new manager now complete with the appointment of Michael Appleton, it feels as though Charlton have now got a new priority off the field, in the form of a potential new contract for Blackett-Taylor.
