It wouldn’t be surprising to see Nathan Jones once again turn to familiar faces in the transfer market, especially after bringing in players like Luke Berry, Dan Potts, and Danny Hylton last summer. With Luton Town now relegated to League One, Jones may look to raid his former club for one or two additions.
Jordan Clark stands out as a potentially shrewd signing for Charlton Athletic if they can lure the 31-year-old to South East London. The midfielder enjoyed a productive season in the Championship, registering six goals and six assists. Having previously played under Jones during his most recent tenure at Kenilworth Road, Clark also made a memorable impact by scoring at Wembley in the 2023 Championship play-off final, helping Luton secure promotion to the Premier League.
Charlton Athletic kept clean sheets in all three of their play-off matches, securing promotion with a 1-0 aggregate win over Wycombe Wanderers and a narrow 1-0 victory against Leyton Orient in the final at Wembley. The result marked a long-awaited return to the Championship for the South London side.
Key to Charlton’s success under Nathan Jones this season has been their strong defensive performances and formidable home form—two factors that will be crucial again if they are to hold their own in the second tier next season.
However, it’s clear that a successful summer transfer window is essential if the team is to have the necessary quality to compete at Championship level. Following the play-off triumph, Jones acknowledged the scale of the task ahead, as highlighted by journalist Richard Cawley on X.
“Now the real work begins – tenfold,” Jones stated. “We’re stepping into a relentless league.”
He went on to explain, “This season we were up against clubs like Birmingham, Wrexham, Bolton, and Huddersfield with far larger budgets. Next, we’re entering an entirely different world, and we need to make sure we’re competitive.”
Jones also stressed the urgency of recruitment, saying, “We’ve only really had one transfer window so far. From here, we need to be exceptional in every decision we make. We’re going to need a significant boost in quality, build on what we already have, and be ready to make some very difficult choices.”
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Others are Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie Donley who had an impressive loan stint at Leyton Orient this season, netting eight goals and providing 10 assists in League One. Despite his contributions, the O’s narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship through the play-offs.
Looking ahead, it appears likely that the 20-year-old will be competing in the Championship next season, with West Bromwich Albion among the clubs reportedly interested in securing him on loan.
