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Charlton Athletic should look to extend Miles Leaburn's contract in order to protect his value.

Charlton Athletic should be looking to extend Miles Leaburn's contract, with the striker's current deal due to expire in the summer of 2025.

Miles Leaburn is one of the most exciting young strikers in League One, having scored 15 goals in 48 appearances in the third tier for Charlton Athletic at just 20 years of age.

The promising forward, who is the son of former Charlton striker Carl, broke into the Addicks' first team on the opening day of the 2022/23 season, marking his debut with a goal against Accrington Stanley before going on to score a further 11 times in the league over the course of the campaign.

He continued his good form into the start of last season, scoring seven goals in all competitions during the first few months of the campaign, before suffering a serious hamstring injury in Charlton's win over Cheltenham Town at the end of November last year.

The club reported at the time that, following successful surgery, Leaburn would be sidelined for up to five months, but now, almost ten months later, he is still yet to have featured again in a first team matchday squad.

The youngster spent six weeks on a rehab programme at St George's Park over the summer, and started for the Addicks' under-21s against Leeds United under-21s at The Valley last week, so he could be in line for a return soon.

Charlton Athletic should try and keep hold of Leaburn

Charlton should look to take advantage of the fact that Leaburn has been sidelined for so long by tying him down to a new contract before his stock rises again once he returns to first team action.

Prior to his hamstring injury last year, Premier League clubs including Chelsea and Brentford were reportedly interested in making an offer for the physical striker during the January transfer window.

Leaburn has also attracted interest from Aston Villa, while Charlton rejected an offer of £3 million from an unnamed Bundesliga club for his services in the summer of 2023.

With his contract set to expire next year, Charlton should do everything they can to try and agree fresh terms with Leaburn, or they will risk losing him for a cut-price transfer fee in January, or worse, seeing him leave for a compensation figure in the summer.

Considering his latest injury, there will of course be concerns about Leaburn's ability to stay fit, but the Addicks seem to have become better at looking after their players since the arrival of Dr Will Abbott from Brighton & Hove Albion, with Chuks Aneke's improved availability a vindication of the impact that he has seemingly had in his first year at The Valley.

Abbott arrived at Charlton a few days after Leaburn sustained his injury. If the Addicks can tie the striker down to a new deal and keep him fit for an extended period, they will have a valuable asset on their hands as well as a talented striker.

Miles Leaburn may want to continue his development at Charlton Athletic

Leaburn left Chelsea's academy prior to joining Charlton as a teenager, so there could be a chance that he is happy to stay in SE7 and continue his development in a first team environment.

His pace and physicality make him the ideal profile of striker for Nathan Jones' system, so if he stays, it would be no surprise if he becomes one of the first names on the teamsheet under the Welshman once he returns to full fitness.

Leaburn's mother, Tracey, is Player Liaison Officer at Charlton, and she plays a key role in looking after the players, which could potentially increase the chances of her son extending his stay at the club.

Chelsea signed striker Mason Burstow from Charlton for £1.5 million in January 2022, and Leaburn has done more for the Addicks than he had at the time, so it would be a real disappointment if he left the club for a lower fee. Therefore, it is vitally important that the club tries to negotiate a new contract over the next few months.