Luton Town land Charlton defender Tom Lockyer – but defender’s exit set to lead to Adam Matthews signing

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Tom Lockyer has agreed a three-year contract at Luton Town – and leaves Charlton Athletic on a free transfer.

The Wales international had a relegation release clause in his deal with the Addicks and activated it earlier this month.

Charlton manager Lee Bowyer said: “Tom came to me yesterday and said Luton had offered him a three-year contract, so that’s where he’s going.

“I’m not surprised that someone has tried to take him. He did well for us last year and he wants to stay in and around the Welsh squad with next summer coming up, that’s what he said.

“The only thing that surprised me is it took this long for someone to try and take him.

“He said there were a couple of others that were interested but they’d faded away.”

Lockyer’s exit is set to mean that Charlton can push through a deal for Adam Matthews, who has still kept training with the club and played in today’s friendly loss at Crystal Palace.

Matthews is a free agent after his Addicks contract ended after the 2019-20 season finished.

“So he [Lockyer] comes out, we can bring someone in now,” said Bowyer.

“That is a position we need to strengthen as well. The problem we have as we stand now is that we only have three defenders in the building. Pearcey is out so we’re down to two – Deji and Ben Purrington.

“We have no right-back, so it probably will be Matthews we look to bring in. And hopefully next week things will change and we might be able to bring in a few more.”

INSET PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS