Exclusive: Charlton Athletic chasing Ipswich Town transfer after £5m Crystal Palace blow | OneFootball

Charlton Athletic are eyeing Ipswich Town's Chiedozie Ogbene on loan after the failed return of Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Football League World has learned

Charlton Athletic are acting quickly after Nathan Jones was forced to pull the plug on the proposed return of Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, as Football League World can now exclusively reveal that the Addicks have identified Ipswich Town's Chiedozie Ogbene as a chief target ahead of Tuesday's crunch 11pm transfer deadline.

A £5 million deal was lined up with Crystal Palace for Rak-Sakyi to rejoin Charlton after previously enjoying an emphatic 15-goal loan spell on loan at the Valley during the 2022/23 League One campaign, which had even seen the popular winger visit Sparrows Lane to undertake medical proceedings and discuss personal terms before the move collapsed at the last minute owing to an inability from both clubs to agree on the moves final details.

Charlton's frustrations have been compounded in recent days despite a stunning start to the new Championship season by defeating Derby County and West Ham United, with Jones having separately confirmed serious injuries to defensive duo Billy Koumeito and Collins Sichenje in the 5-1 Carabao Cup second-round loss at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday evening as the Rak-Sakyi deal fell through.

However, as the loan arrival of Tyler Bindon from Nottingham Forest also beckons following recent reports, Charlton are making further moves heading into the closing stages of this summer's window.

Charlton Athletic eyeing Ipswich Town, Chiedozie Ogbene transfer after missing out on Crystal Palace's Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

Charlton have been called back into action in the wake of Rak-Sakyi's failed return to the club and Jones has wasted no time in exploring fresh targets before the clock runs down on Tuesday night, with Football League World now learning that the Addicks have sought to pinpoint out-of-favour Ipswich wide-man Ogbene as a top target ahead of a potential deal with the Premier League side.

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FLW understands that any such agreement for Ogbene's move to SE7 would be on a temporary basis for the duration of the season, as Jones looks to carefully distribute remaining funds of the transfer budget across his squad.

Ogbene, who joined Ipswich for an £8 million outlay from Luton Town in the summer of 2024, still has two years to run on his current contract at Portman Road, where he finds himself surplus to requirements following an injury-plagued spell.

Indeed, the versatile winger has made just nine appearances in Suffolk and spent the previous campaign on loan with Sheffield United as the Tractor Boys romped to promotion, featuring on 13 occasions and scoring once in the Steel City.

Despite Ogbene's availability and lowly status within Gary O'Neil's squad, however, Charlton are only believed to be targeting a loan swoop at this moment in time.

Ipswich Town's Chiedozie Ogbene has also been linked with Stoke City as Charlton Athletic eye transfer

Charlton's sudden pursuit of Ogbene could provide a curveball in the direction of Championship rivals Stoke City, who have recently been credited with an interest in the 29-year-old's services by the East Anglian Daily Times.

That report noted enquries from a number of unnamed Championship clubs, with Charlton's efforts to beat second-tier counterparts to a deal only emerging after missing out on Rak-Sakyi's proposed return.

Stoke are also braced to endure a hectic finale to the window amid speculation surrounding the future of star winger Sorba Thomas, who is of strong interest to top-flight new-boys Hull City as the Potters demand north of £10 million for his signature.

Just how much that particular saga could impact Charlton's chase for Ogbene remains unclear, although it is understood that the 35-cap Republic of Ireland international is a leading target for the South London-based side and that may carry weight in negotiations.

Ipswich Town's Chiedozie Ogbene fits the bill for Nathan Jones at Charlton Athletic

Charlton supporters have been left to lick their wounds after the dramatic collapse of what would have been an emotional and much-welcomed homecoming for Rak-Sakyi, who retains a strong status at the Valley to this day and represents a level of quality which the Addicks would do extremely well to recruit before the window concludes.

Ogbene, it must be said, lacks the X-factor of the former Charlton loan hero, although the Irishman ticks many boxes for the way that Jones operates his sides and it would be a logical move for all parties in light of the current situation.

Tried-and-tested at Championship level, the one-time Rotherham United starlet has made close to 150 combined appearances across the second and third-tier and brings no shortage of positional flexibility, capable of playing anywhere down the right-hand side.

Ogbene's electric speed is married up with energy, work-ethic and dangerous ball-carrying into the final third, which aligns with how Charlton often look to beat opponents in transition with a direct approach under Jones.

The Ipswich winger's injury record is, of course, a notable concern, and he has struggled for any consistent run of both form and fitness after leaving Luton in the wake of a solid individual campaign in the Premier League.