Charlton Athletic are about to miss out on signing a Junior League player to Italian club Venezia following a stunning reversal.

According to Swiss site 4-4-2, the Addicks have failed to recruit the 20-year-old despite making two offers this month.

The London club was thought to be leading the fight for his contract, but Serie B has stepped in with a higher offer.

The defender has made an impression in the Swiss Super League this season and is regarded as an intriguing, potential young talent.

He has nine appearances for Zurich this season, five of which have been starts, and 54 overall in the top level.

Charlton Athletic miss out on a Junior League signing.

Harlton missed the chance to sign Ligue from Zurich on January when a permanent deal was reached with Venezia.

The Addicks wanted a loan with a buy option, but the Swiss and Italian teams reached an arrangement worth €2.5 million (£2.1 million).

Nathan Jones was aiming to improve his defensive options in January, and the Championship club was regarded as the leading contenders to sign Ligue.

However, they will now have to look for alternative targets, and it has already been claimed that the London club has agreed to recruit Conor Coady on loan from Wrexham for the remainder of the season.

Charlton, who were promoted from League One last season, are looking to survive in the second division for the first time.

The Addicks are presently 19th in the Championship table, three points above the relegation zone after 28 games.

Jones’ side will next face Leicester City on January 31 at 12.30pm.

Charlton’s Junior Ligue growth is a setback.

The signing of Coady on loan for the rest of the season could be a wise short-term answer to the club’s survival.

However, the long-term impact of missing out on someone like Ligue is detrimental to the team’s future, since he is a player who could have established himself a significant member of the club over the next few years.

The immediate aim is to stay in the division, which Coady should help with, but he will return to Wrexham in the summer and cannot be relied on after that.

Although defensive strengthening is clearly required, bringing in a young talent from the Swiss Super League would have been an intriguing addition.