Charlton Athletic had a near-perfect summer transfer window, both arriving and exiting.
The Addicks improved multiple positions with players who were either established Championship talent or on the verge of making the jump, allowing many of their fringe players from the promotion campaign to go out on loan to League One and League Two clubs.
Gassan Ahadme, Daniel Kanu, and Alex Mitchell, all of whom played a role last season, were unlikely to get many minutes in the Championship, therefore they went on loan to keep playing.
Micah Mbick, Kaheim Dixon, and Nathan Asiimwe, three promising Charlton youth players, were also loaned out to gain vital game time.
Karoy Anderson, who arguably falls under both umbrellas, did not depart the club this summer.
Anderson, one of Nathan Jones’ go-tos from the bench last season, hasn’t been used as often as Charlton fans would have liked this year, and many are demanding for him to leave on loan next month.
Charlton Athletic fan pundit urges for Karoy Anderson’s loan transfer in January
Anderson was a valuable team member last season. Despite playing behind Luke Berry, Connor Coventry, and Greg Docherty in the pecking order, the young Jamaican missed just eight games.
However, with the midfield group improving over the summer, the 21-year-old has fallen by the wayside, and Chris Woodward, FLW’s Charlton fan analyst, believes that a January move to gain playing time will benefit him.
“Most of our squad players were moved on last season,” Woodward remarked. “We have four players on loan in League One, a couple of loanees have returned to their parent clubs, and a few have been released.”
“Combined with the fact that we signed Joe Rankin-Costelloe, Sonny Carey, and Harvey Knibbs this summer, bringing our midfielder total to seven, I’m amazed Karoy Anderson stayed instead of moving out on loan.
“Anderson is admired by Jones.” He’s the type of player that fits his system, but he only started 16 games last season, with Coventry, Berry, and Docherty as the favored middle three.
“With three new midfielders coming in, it was always going to be a struggle for Anderson this season.”
Anderson has spent the majority of the season on the bench or out of the lineup entirely.
While Woodward understands that Nathan Jones is a fan of his and would have preferred to have him around the first team, the 21-year-old has yet to see game time in the Championship.
“Given he just turned 21 in October, it would have been the perfect opportunity to compete for a place next season,” said the reporter.
“Considering some of the successes of some of our other loans at the moment, like Kanu and Mbick, I would be surprised if we don’t look at something similar for Anderson.”
Above all, Woodward believes that allowing Anderson to depart on loan will free up room in the squad for defensive reinforcement, which the Addicks clearly require following a mini-injury crisis at the back in recent months.
“Seeing him leave on loan would also free up a position and some wage money for players in positions we do lack, such as in defence,” he further added.
“So, I believe that this would be a sensible decision to make for all parties involved.”
A League One loan might spark Karoy Anderson’s season and salvage his Charlton Athletic career.
Anderson was one of numerous Charlton academy graduates who had success during the club’s recent five-year League One stint. By the time the Addicks were promoted, the then-20-year-old had made 75 first-team appearances for the club.
However, Nathan Jones’ decision not to let him go on loan this summer proved to be a mistake, as his development has been hampered in recent months.
A move to a League One club would not mark the end of Anderson’s time at the Valley. In reality, it would be wiser to use this chance to build a claim to a spot on the first squad when he returns.
After being a key cog in Charlton’s relentless machine in the second half of the 2024/25 season, when the Addicks went from mid-table at Christmas to play-off champions in May, he could easily come into a third-tier side on the outskirts of the top six this January and provide a much-needed boost.
If he can return to his parent club as a two-time, back-to-back promotion winner, Nathan Jones may consider him for more second-tier minutes next season.
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