Charlton Athletic urged to take Stockport County transfer 'gamble' on one condition | OneFootball

He has played his part in the Addicks' successful survival bid.

Charlton Athletic pulled off an almighty victory over promotion-chasing Hull City last weekend to secure their Championship status.

While they probably had just enough points in the bank to not be considered real relegation candidates, they can now rest easy and head into the summer with a sense of optimism.

It was always going to be a challenge for Nathan Jones to survive in the second tier, and as Portsmouth have experienced recently, it may not get any easier.

However, something Charlton will be looking to get right ahead of the new campaign is recruitment, and they already have a potentially big decision to make over a familiar face at The Valley.

Jayden Fevrier competes for a tackle.

Reuters

Jayden Fevrier arrived at Charlton on loan from League One side Stockport County in January until the end of the season amid a defensive crisis at The Valley.

The Addicks were particularly short in wide defensive areas, and the former West Ham United academy product fit the bill, with Jones commenting on his versatility across the back when he signed for the club.

The 23-year-old has by no means made an incredible impact at the club, but he has left his mark on their survival by scoring the winner against Hull last weekend.

When asked whether his club should be pushing for the permanent signing of Fevrier this summer, FLW’S Charlton Athletic Fan pundit Chris Woodward delivered his verdict on whether they should make the move.

"I'd only look to sign Fevrier if it was a deal that would be financially beneficial for us," he told Football League World.

"I just question whether Fevrier can consistently match the levels he showed at Hull at the weekend.

"However, being Stockport's second-choice attacker at the moment, if they don't really want him and are happy to let him go cheap, I'm more than happy to take a gamble on him, but it can't be at the expense of influencing our other types of business."

What Charlton must consider when making Fevrier decision

Fevrier signed for Charlton at a particularly tough time, considering their injuries, and has offered a different skill set to what the club already possessed.

Woodward was quick to applaud the good work that the former Hammers man has done on the pitch and could not fault his effort for the cause.

"He's made a very good impression," he continued.

"His versatility has been very important, playing as a left wing-back, right wing-back, right-midfield, left-wing and as a wide CAM since coming in, and when he has played, his effort and attitude have been outstanding.

"His one-on-one ability is something we have also desperately missed this season in this squad, and he's the only other player besides Campbell who could take on a man, and at 23, has a lot of room to improve."

Despite the words of encouragement, though, Woodward has highlighted some critical factors that the Addicks should consider before making a move for him.

"However, considering Stockport fans said he struggles with consistency, the fact he's only played a handful of minutes and is likely to be a squad player, makes me hesitant to throw the chequebook at him," he added.

"You really need to focus on upgrading the starting 11, opposed to squad players, which Fevrier will no doubt be seen as."

Where Charlton must improve for next season

Defensively, Jones' side have been pretty secure, especially when considering their position in the Championship table.

Only six sides in the entire division have conceded fewer goals than Charlton, but their attacking numbers make for rather more concerning reading.

Just two clubs have scored fewer goals than the Addicks, with Sonny Carey their top scorer on a measly eight goals.

Furthermore, their xG of 47.05 is the second-lowest in the division, according to Opta, emphasising their inability to create chances.

Lyndon Dykes, who was signed in January to boost goal figures at The Valley, has only managed three, meaning they are yet to find a solution.

Charlton have been pretty successful from set pieces, so targeting Dykes was a sensible move, but pursuing a more clinical striker in the summer must be at the top of their agenda.

Of course, acquiring such a talent is not easy and is often extremely costly, so it might be in the club's best interests to raid League One for their next marksman.

In terms of Fevrier, it is clear that Charlton have been lacking in squad depth at full-back, and if they want to avoid the same issues next season, then they will surely need to bolster this area, meaning that a move for him may be the sensible thing to do.