Stockport County must launch Charlton Athletic raid after Birmingham City agreement is made | OneFootball

Lyndon Dykes's move to Charlton could open the door for a striker to return to Edgeley Park mere months after making a summer move to Charlton

Charlton Athletic have added to an already saturated striker group with the arrival of Lyndon Dykes from Birmingham City.

The 30-year-old frontman returned to the capital after a season and a half at St Andrew's, where he was mainly an impact player from the bench brought on to use his size and strength to either preserve a lead or grab a late goal.

After nearly joining Hibs in the summer in search of more game time, it was clear that Dykes was going to be angling for a move this January, and there'd be some expectation that the Scottish international would be given a more prominent role at the Valley.

There's no doubt that a striker was atop Nathan Jones' wishlist this winter window, with the Addicks among the lowest scoring sides in the Championship so far this season. However, there's also no ignoring that Dykes is joining a club rich in attacking players.

Charlton now have, when fit, new man Dykes, last season's talisman Matty Godden, Charlie Kelman, who cost the club an initial £3.5 million in the summer, and 22-year-old Miles Leaburn, who is the son of Addicks legend Carl and is seen as one for the future.

All four you'd expect to challenge for the front two positions, and that may leave Tanto Olaofe, who also joined the club in the summer, left by the wayside.

Therefore, the 22-year-old could look to leave the Valley to ensure more game time, and if he does, a reunion at Stockport County has to be the ideal destination.

Stockport County should jump at the opportunity to re-sign Tanto Olaofe if it comes

This term's been a bit of a bumpy one so far for last season's third-placed side in League One, as Stockport have limped their way through the opening half of the campaign, despite pre-season expectations of truly kicking on from their first year back in the third tier.

Dave Challinor has had to deal with key men being injured and summer arrivals not living up to expectations, including striker Nathan Lowe, who was sent back to Stoke City from his loan spell earlier this month, having scored just three league goals.

Therefore, a new striker at Edgeley Park is required, and who better to turn to than to someone that both Challinor and the Stockport fans know will deliver?

Olaofe had his breakout years in the EFL at Stockport, all starting with a hat-trick in a 5-0 demiolition of Wrexham when the two sides were in League Two in September 2023. That kickstarted a season where he wound up with 20 goals en route to the fourth tier title.

Chances were limited in the side at the start of last season due to Louie Barry's excellence, but once the Villa loanee was recalled, Olaofe started 20 of Stockport's final 21 games of the campaign, scoring five times in a run which saw the Hatters lose just twice.

The 26-year-old was raw at times in front of goal, but terrified defences week in, week out, with his pure pace and power, and became a fan favourite at Edgeley Park.

It's still quite rare that a player departs with the best wishes from the vast majority of the fanbase, but when Charlton came in with a £1.5 million offer for the frontman over the summer, no one could begrudge him from taking the move.

Now, just six months on, there may be a chance they could bring Oloafe back, and if there is, the higher ups at Edgeley Park shouldn't think twice before doing so.

Tanto Oloafe could rediscover form back in League One after underwhelming Championship spell

Oloafe's move to the second tier has been slightly disappointing, but that's not the 26-year-old's fault, as he hasn't been afforded much of an opportunity to excel at Charlton, being used as an impact player for the majority of the campaign.

At Stockport, he'd likely resume the role he took towards the back end of last season, feeding off of Kyle Wootton's aerial presence and using his pace to get in behind. After half a year putting his skills to the test against Championship defenders, Oloafe could be real handful in the second half of the campaign in League One.

Dave Challinor knows what his former frontman is about, and at a period of the season where there isn't much time for a new striker to gel into the system at Edgeley Park, returning to a familar face might be the way to go.