Ipswich Town deal offers Charlton Athletic transfer answer - big Southampton FC decision looms | OneFootball

Harry Clarke's arrival at Charlton has left James Bree's future uncertain

Harry Clarke’s move from Ipswich Town to Charlton Athletic will cause a headache for Southampton as a decision will now need to be made about James Bree, while perhaps clearing up any lingering questions about his future with the Addicks.

Charlton confirmed on Monday evening that the full-back has agreed a deal to join the club on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

The 24-year-old has not yet featured for the Tractor Boys so far this season, with his last appearance coming as part of his loan spell at Sheffield United in the previous campaign which was cut short through injuries

However, Nathan Jones will be delighted to have reinforced his defensive options amid their attempts to survive in the Championship.

Injuries have hurt the South London outfit, which has caused them to slide down the table in recent weeks, putting their status in the second tier at risk.

Nevertheless, Bree’s place as part of Jones’ plans must now be in question with Clarke’s arrival, with the Southampton loanee now competing for minutes with the new addition.

Harry Clarke’s Charlton Athletic arrival offers James Bree transfer answer

Bree joined Charlton in the summer, arriving on loan from Southampton to reunite with his former boss at the Saints, as well as at Luton Town.

The full-back has been a consistent presence for the Addicks this season, featuring 20 times from their opening 25 league fixtures.

He’s also contributed two goals and three assists, but his most recent involvement came in a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday all the way back on 18 October.

Since then, he has lacked the same impact in the final third and his form has declined as the team has struggled for results, with Addicks supporters turning against the ex-Aston Villa man in recent times.

The arrival of Clarke indicates that his future could lie away from the Valley, with Bree's half-season loan deal set to expire on January 17. Jones previously suggested that attempts to secure an arrangement to extend the full-back's stay were ongoing, but with the Addicks already having the likes of Rob Apter and Kayne Ramsay capable of filling in on the right-hand side, it's hard to see how Bree will continue to figure.

Southampton will be paying close attention, as they will have to make a decision soon on the player’s long-term future at St. Mary’s.

Tonda Eckert already has a lot of options at right-wing-back, including Tom Fellows and Elias Jelert sharing the duties, while Mads Roerslev remains an option.

So it will be difficult for Bree to earn his place back in the side if he has no long-term future at Charlton.

James Bree’s contract situation at Southampton

Southampton could yet decide that Bree is someone worth keeping, but they will have to make a decision soon, as his contract will expire in 2026.

The full-back has made 41 league appearances for the Saints, including 22 in the Premier League, so he brings plenty of experience to the team.

Charlton bringing in Clarke indicates that Bree is not a viable long-term option for the club, making it all the more likely that he will not be pursued as a permanent transfer in the summer.

Southampton might have been under the assumption that remaining at Charlton was an option moving forward, but they now have to weigh up whether or not to offer him a new deal in the summer before his current contract expires.

While Jelert’s option to sign permanently didn’t look likely to be triggered earlier in the season, he has proven in recent weeks that he is a capable deputy in the side at right-wing-back.

Roerslev is injured at the moment, but he was also signed in the summer to provide competition in that position, and Fellows has been selected there a lot as well.

It’s hard to see Bree in the mix under Eckert, so he could find himself left out in the cold with the addition of Clarke at the Valley.

The London outfit have the defensive reinforcement that they need for the second half of the campaign, but it’s put the 28-year-old in a tough position, leaving his future uncertain.