Charlton Athletic transfer exit tipped for January - "I'm very surprised" he hasn't left already | OneFootball

FLW's Charlton fan pundit believes that Karoy Anderson will be leaving the club on loan this January

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Charlton Athletic had a near-perfect summer transfer window in both an incoming and an outgoing sense.

The Addicks ensured that they improved multiple positions with players who were either already established Championship talent or players who were on the periphery of making that jump, and in turn allowed a lot of their fringe players from the promotion campaign to go out on loan to sides in League One and League Two.

The likes of Gassan Ahadme, Daniel Kanu and Alex Mitchell, all of whom had a part to play last season, weren't realistically going to have many minutes in the Championship, so departed on loan to maintain minutes.

Then, the likes of Micah Mbick, Kaheim Dixon and Nathan Asiimwe, up-and-coming youngsters out of the Charlton academy, were also sent out on loan to earn valuable game time.

Someone who arguably falls under both umbrellas, but didn't leave the club this summer, was Karoy Anderson.

One of Nathan Jones' go-tos from the bench last season, Anderson hasn't been used nearly as much as Charlton fans would have wanted the 21-year-old to be this year, and many are calling for him to depart on loan next month.

Charlton Athletic fan pundit calls for Karoy Anderson loan switch in January

Anderson was a very helpful squad member last season. Despite being behind the likes of Luke Berry, Connor Coventry and Greg Docherty in the pecking order, the young Jamaican only missed eight games.

However, with the midfield pack improving over the summer, the 21-year-old has been left by the wayside, and Chris Woodward, FLW's Charlton fan pundit, believes that a move in January to get game time will suit him.

"Most of our squad players were moved on last season," Woodward explained. "We have four players on loan in League One, a couple of loanees returned to their parent clubs, and a few were released.

"Combine that with the fact that we signed Joe Rankin-Costelloe, Sonny Carey and Harvey Knibbs this summer, taking our midfielder count to seven, I'm very surprised that Karoy Anderson stayed this summer, instead of going out on loan.

"Anderson is admired by Jones. He's a type of player who suits his system, but he only started 16 games last season, and Coventry, Berry and Docherty were the preferred 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 campaign either on the bench or even out of the squad completely.

Whilst Woodward appreciates that Nathan Jones is a fan of his, and would likely have wanted him around the first team, game time just hasn't materialised in the Championship for the 21-year-old.

"Given he just turned 21 in October, it would have been the perfect opportunity to compete for a place next season," he continued.

"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, allowing Anderson to leave on loan would, in Woodward's eyes, free up a space in the squad for defensive reinforcement, which the Addicks evidently need after 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 concluded.

"So, I believe that this would be a sensible decision to make for all parties involved."

A League One loan could reignite Karoy Anderson's season and save his Charlton Athletic career

Anderson was one of the many success stories to come out of the Charlton academy during their recent five-year spell in League One. By the time the Addicks secured promotion, the then-20-year-old had already made 75 first-team appearances for the club.

However, not allowing him to depart on loan this past summer proved to be a bit of a dud call by Nathan Jones, as his growth has been somewhat stunted over the past few months.

A move to a side in League One wouldn't spell the end of Anderson's time at the Valley. In fact, it would better serve as an opportunity to stake a claim in the first team as and when he returns.

After being a key cog in the relentless Charlton machine in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, where the Addicks went from a mid-table side at Christmas to play-off champions in May, he could easily come into a third-tier side on the periphery of the top six this January and give them a much-needed boost.

If he can come back to his parent club as a two-time, and back-to-back, promotion winner, Nathan Jones might just consider him for some more second-tier minutes next season.