Charlton Athletic have been given further incentives to achieve promotion, with five Championship clubs monitoring wide-man Thierry Small.
As many as five clubs in England’s second tier are aware of Small’s situation. The versatile full-back’s contract with the Addicks is set to expire next month. According to FootballInsider, Derby County, Millwall, Preston North End, Oxford United, and Blackburn Rovers are all monitoring a potential switch for the versatile full-back.
Small has been persistently linked with a move to the Championship, with his future uncertain for much of this season. The Addicks would be due compensation, regardless of his contract situation, due to his age, but that is unlikely to be anywhere near the fee they could command if he were in contract.
With all five clubs having a secure future in the Championship next season, the allure of the second tier would be hard for the South London club to sway the 20-year-old from. However, unlike Small’s suitors, Charlton’s season is not over, and that could be key in his future.
Charlton Athletic Promotion Could See Small Stay
While Blackburn Rovers’ pursuit of Small could perhaps have had a different ending had they reached the playoffs in the second tier, that is not the case now. Rovers missed out on a chance to return to the Premier League on the final day. That could not be said for the 20-year-old’s current club, who will meet Wycombe Wanderers in the playoff semi-final.
With his potential suitors in the Championship watching on, Nathan Jones and his side will have further incentive to succeed in their task of achieving promotion. Facing a Wycombe side this Sunday, who made life hard for champions Birmingham City, will be no easy task, though. Their form in League One in their rise to the playoffs may only give them confidence, having just three defeats to their name since February, a 4-0 victory at Adams Park came during that run last month.
Charlton Athletic Star May Have Eyes on Premier League
With the talk of Championship clubs circling, Small may still have his eyes set higher than the second tier. Having risen through the ranks of Everton’s academy, as well as joining the Addicks from recently relegated Southampton, it would be safe to assume that the left-back has set his sights on the Premier League.
Having played just once for Everton and Southampton, the Englishman may eye a return after his performances for the Saints’ youth team seemingly went unnoticed. Small netted five times and notched four assists in 22 appearances in the under-21 side at Saint Mary’s before a loan spell with St Mirren saw him manage just one assist in 21 appearances in the Scottish Premiership.
If he did have a goal of returning to the Premier League, his current clubs and potential suitors do not seem to be any that could help in achieving that. Blackburn and Millwall narrowly missed out on the playoff places in the second tier, a trending theme for both sides, who seem to fall short often. Derby, Oxford and Preston all find themselves at the wrong end of the table, having avoided relegation by a narrow margin.
Summer recruitment could help anyone achieve promotion, and Small could be a player who makes a difference in that race. His performances for Nathan Jones’ side are evidence of him being key in such circumstances, with two goals and three assists in 39 appearances this season, he is a player who could very well be playing in England’s top flight one day.