Charlton working to ‘strict’ budget as they look to strengthen squad in summer transfer window

Steve Gallen says that Charlton are working to a “strict” budget after they fended off rival interest to secure Jayden Stockley’s signature.

The 27-year-old striker joined the Addicks for an undisclosed fee from Preston North End today.

Portsmouth, Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday had all been interested in Stockley, who had his heart set on a permanent move to SE7.

“I remember reading something the other week from our old boss, Karl Robinson, who put something out saying League One had gone mad, crazy with the amounts being paid,” said Gallen, director of football at The Valley. “I do hear big, big numbers being mentioned out there potentially by other clubs.

“And good luck to them, if they can find that in their budgets and getting in the best players with what they are spending. We’re following a strict budget here, we don’t want to put ourselves under pressure, we don’t want to get a points reduction and go over what we can afford. But, of course, we want to get the best players in here and be at the top of the division.

“That’s all everybody wants. We are trying, we are in the market for the better players we can get – but there is also competition. Hopefully the next week or two it will fall into place and there will be a few more and then I can see a few more potentially during pre-season and then, as always, right at the end of the transfer window there will be one or two deals to be had as well.

“We can’t just wait until the end because our squad is not that big. We have to do some business now. But that’s how I see the process – a bit before pre-season, a bit during it and a bit right at the end.”