Dons striker was aware of Charlton link in January transfer window – and discusses running contract down

By Richard Cawley

Lyle Taylor admits that running down his AFC Wimbledon contract is a risk – but he will find a Championship offer hard to resist in the summer.

The 27-year-old South Londoner believes two bids were turned down for him during the January transfer window.

Charlton were keen on a deal – with the Dons fans’ favourite confirming he had heard their name mentioned in connection with him.

But the identity of the two clubs who bid for him has not been revealed.

“In a way it is a sign of respect and the deep regard the manager has for my talent,” said Taylor. “The fact he saw those two offers were not good enough to lose me.

“If he turned around and accepted £50 and a packet of crisps then I’d be sat there thinking he doesn’t rate me very highly. From what I know the sums of money were not small, but weren’t enough to make it worth the club’s while.

“The manager and the board had to do what they had to do. I respect that. It’s not like I was kept in the dark.”

“Sometimes you have to be a free agent, just in the same way Tom Elliott was last year. It can be the best way to find yourself with options. Touch wood I stay fit. If I’m able to stay fit and score a few more goals between now and the end of the season and the offers come it will be a successful gamble.

“It’s like everything in life, a choice and a gamble.”