QPR are the ones laughing from Charlton Athletic agreement right now | OneFootball

Charlie Kelman has been unable to get going thus far at Charlton Athletic.

Charlie Kelman hasn't quite got going in a Charlton Athletic shirt yet following his £5 million move from Queens Park Rangers over the summer.

The centre-forward found the back of the net 21 times for Leyton Orient in League One last term (excluding the play-offs), finishing the season as the league's top scorer, before he added another two in the play-offs.

Heading back to parent club QPR after his loan spell at Brisbane Road, Kelman's future in West London was up in the air, with questions surrounding his ability to compete at Championship level.

Charlton bit the bullet and purchased the forward for a reported £3.5 million initial fee, potentially rising to £5m in add-ons.

Though, despite the Addicks' positive start to life back in the second tier, Kelman hasn't quite got going under Nathan Jones, and QPR are the ones laughing, with the added funds allowing the R's to recruit Wycombe's Richard Kone, who has been sensational under Julien Stephan across the opening period of the season.

Charlie Kelman deserved Championship shot with Charlton Athletic after Leyton Orient form

With fantastic pace off the mark and the ability to stretch defences, Kelman was mightily impressive in League One, and had done more than enough to suggest that he potentially deserved a shot at Loftus Road in the Championship.

The forward found the back of the net 27 times in all competitions for Orient, who eventually lost out in the play-off final to Kelman's new club, Charlton.

It would have been unfair to judge him on his earlier performances at second tier level, given both his age and the significant quality gap between the second and third tiers.

Indeed, he'd previously made 11 Championship appearances for QPR in the 23/24 season, in which he failed to provide a single goal or assist.

He also made one appearance in the 21/22 campaign, again failing to grab a goal or an assist, and he also made a further 11 second tier showings for the R's in 20/21, and was again unable to register any goal contributions for the Hoops.

At 23, Kelman had seemingly matured and developed into a more than reliable EFL goalscorer who was absolutely deserving of another shot in the second tier.

However, his quality has not quite shone through at The Valley just yet, despite the Addicks' bright start to the campaign, as they find themselves sniffing around the play-off places after the early exchanges.

There is nothing to say that Kelman is unable to adapt to the division, but as of now, QPR are the ones benefiting the most from his summer move.

QPR are not missing Charlie Kelman thanks to Richard Kone signing

Kone image credit - Benji Walker (@benjiwalkerphoto)

Kelman's future was a hot topic among the R's fanbase over the summer months, with contrasting thoughts on whether he should be the man to lead the line under Stephan.

These debates would become redundant when the forward made the switch to Charlton in late July, while QPR secured the signing of Wycombe's Richard Kone weeks later.

Also applying his trade in the third tier last term, Kone found the back of the net 18 times for the Chairboys, prompting interest from a handful of Championship clubs.

The striker has since started fantastically under Stephan at QPR, with three goals across his opening six appearances for the R's. And it's not just goals that he offers either.

When compared to Kelman, Kone is a much more prominent presence up top, as proven statistically, with Kone outperforming Kelman in all important metrics alongside the obvious goal tallies of three and zero.

At Charlton thus far, Kelman has won just 15.6 per cent of his aerial duels, compared to Kone winning 30.8 per cent: a significant improvement in a stat so crucial in a highly physical league such as the Championship.

Kone has started fantastically at QPR and has already become a fan favourite.

While the R's themselves are emerging as live play-off contenders heading into their matchday eight clash with Oxford United, after recovering from a shaky start to the campaign.

Kelman is not a lost cause in the Championship just yet; his record in League One more than proves that he knows where the back of the net is.

However, it would be incredibly difficult to argue anything other than the fact that QPR are the beneficiaries of his Charlton switch over the summer right now.

The R's are going well under Julie Stephan, and are currently on course for a potential stab at the upper echelons of mid-table, and maybe even a push for the play-offs.

Charlton have started well under Nathan Jones too, however, their £5 million man up top is yet to get going at The Valley - something that supporters will hope changes soon.