The winter transfer window is set to be vital for Charlton Athletic, who will definitely be looking to improve their chances of remaining in the Championship.

Another promising start under Nathan Jones has steadily faded, and with the Addicks hoping to escape a second consecutive relegation struggle this season, the next window is critical in this part of South London.

Jones is likely to seek a number of recruits, but it would also be unsurprising if the Welshman intended to remove deadwood from his team and sanction exits for players who may have no true long-term future under his leadership.

Rob Apter is one player who could be leaving the Valley, having struggled since joining Charlton from Blackpool last summer.

Apter, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury that requires surgery, spent the second half of the previous season on an uneventful loan back in League One with Bolton Wanderers after failing to make an impact at Championship level, and, upon recovery, appears to be a likely exit from Jones’ ranks.

But who else could join Apter in potentially leaving Charlton once the new year arrives? Football League World looks at FOUR players that could be on their way out.

Tiernan Brooks

One unsurprising January exit would be Tiernan Brooks, who has yet to challenge the goalkeeping pecking order after joining Charlton from Gateshead in January.

Brooks, a decent shot-stopper by National League standards with the ability to play at a higher level, is Charlton’s third-choice contender behind Will Mannion and Arthur Okonkwo and is unlikely to force his way into Jones’ consideration anytime soon.

The former Republic of Ireland youth international’s competitive Addicks debut was a baptism of fire when he manned the sticks in his side’s 5-1 EFL Cup second-round loss to Tottenham Hotspur in August, and while he didn’t shine on the night, it shouldn’t be held against him too harshly.

Keeping goal close to Championship level feels like a stretch, but Brooks was a long-term investment from the South Londoners, and they should aim to validate that by providing him with frequent short-term minutes deeper down the EFL pyramid.

Charlie Kellman

Charlie Kelman, on the other hand, is fighting a lost battle to recoup the significant fee Charlton paid QPR for his services by establishing himself in the second tier.

Kelman scored 27 goals in all competitions on loan for Leyton Orient, who lost to Charlton in the League One play-off final that season, before Jones acted to thrash out an initial £3.5 million contract with QPR two months later.

Capable of climbing to £5 million if different add-on criteria are met, certain bonuses are becoming increasingly unlikely to be met. Kelman has suffered a difficult stint on the other side of London, gritting his teeth through many significant goal droughts in a first season that yielded only seven goals from 33 league appearances.

Injuries have delayed his start to the season at Charlton as well, although he has primarily warmed the bench since returning to playing contention behind starting striker Miles Leaburn. The 22-year-old’s own struggles in front of goal may indicate that Kelman just cannot remove his colleague, and it is not impossible that the Addicks may try to recuperate part of their cash.

Even a loan stay away to assist Kelman regain his goal-scoring touch would not be the worst option, as the 24-year-old still has time to improve under Jones. However, the unfortunate frontman is currently struggling to make an impact, and Charlton may decide to intervene.

Harvey Knibbs

Harvey Knibbs’ status has sometimes baffled many at the Valley, as much was anticipated of the goalscoring midfielder when he arrived from Reading following Charlton’s promotion to the Championship.

There is a case to be made that, unlike the aforementioned Kelman, the gifted 27-year-old has been given an unfair lack of opportunities to demonstrate what he can accomplish at this level, which is precisely why an exit, temporary or permanent, should be sought.

He’s too excellent to sit on the bench every week, but that’s how much of his time at Charlton has been spent.

Knibbs was previously on the books of Aston Villa in his formative years, and his two seasons at League One Reading saw him score 16 goals and six assists in all competitions, making his coming much anticipated by fans.

However, things haven’t gone as planned, and Knibbs only scored three goals in the Championship last season. The significant caveat, however, is that he only played 657 minutes of second-tier football and is still unable to win over Jones, for whatever reason.

The attacking midfielder started none of Charlton’s first eight league games, although he was still used infrequently as a late substitution with little opportunity to make an impression.

Knibbs is an undeniable talent with the technical and goal-scoring abilities to potentially add a new facet to an often one-dimensional Addicks assault. Knibbs’ situation is certainly intriguing, and as such, it would only seem natural for the ex-Reading star to seek more minutes elsewhere.

Tyreece Campbell

Tyreece Campbell, on the other hand, provides a completely new flavour. Rather than pursuing additional minutes away from Charlton or being deemed surplus to requirements, the great winger may be lured away after the turn of the year.

Campbell has long been seen as a promising prospect with great long-term potential and upside, and his early-season performances may have set a number of vultures on red alert as the winter window approaches.

Now 23, Campbell’s game has gained maturity and composure, transforming the 12-cap Jamaican international from a tricky and talented winger with a tendency to frustrate and notable inconsistency in production to one capable of finishing moves and deciding games while retaining all of the exciting qualities that had marked him out as one to watch since a young age.

Campbell matched his goalscoring tally from last season before the first international break, having added four strikes against Derby County, West Ham, West Bromwich Albion, and Cardiff City. He had pace to burn and no shortage of flicks and tricks, but now he also has the end ball.

The significance of those goals cannot be overstated, with Campbell’s improved propensity for scoring late and converting all-decisive equalisers or even victories demonstrating his capacity to step up and produce crucial moments.

His age and energetic goalscoring presence up and down the left side are sure to draw admiring glances in January, but he won’t be easily persuaded away after Charlton shrewdly negotiated a new long-term contract during his red-hot run at the start of the season.

Retaining Campbell, however, could be critical to the Addicks’ survival hopes, and while his contractual situation means he is unlikely to leave this season, it is difficult to see the club advancing through the winter months without receiving some level of rival interest.