Charlton Athletic target 'in negotiations' with new club after failed Deadline Day Sunderland transfer

Charlton Athletic transfer target Jewison Bennette is set to finally secure his exit from Championship outfit Sunderland after his failed Deadline Day move to The Valley earlier this month.

The Costa Rica international has struggled to cement a place in the starting XI at the Stadium of Light since arriving in the North East in 2022. Bennette bagged two goals for the Black Cats in his first season but hasn't scored since, only making one first team appearance this term - a nine minute Carabao Cup cameo in a 2-0 defeat to Preston North End last August.

The winger was sent on loan to Greek side Aris last season but that was an underwhelming stay that did not help him break into Regis Le Bris' thinking for the 2024/25 campaign. The wide man was given the green light to leave the club in the January window.

Charlton Athletic failed in Deadline Day swoop for Championship star

Charlton Athletic were the frontrunners to sign the player with the Sunderland Echo claiming that negotiations were underway for Bennette on Deadline Day. The Sunderland man can play either as an advanced winger or as a full-back.

However, that transfer fell at the final hurdle as a deal could not be struck before the 11 pm deadline with papers not signed to make the winger a Charlton Athletic player. Fresh reports this week now claim that Bennette has finally found a new destination in Ukrainian side LNZ Cherkasy.

It remains to be seen whether that move is a permanent deal or a loan move. Journalist Kevin Jimenez, who broke the news that Bennette was signing for Sunderland initially, wrote on social media: “CRUkraine's LNZ is interested in Jewison Bennette, negotiations ongoing.”

When asked about Bennette after Sunderland under-21s win against Wolves at the Academy of Light after the window had closed, Graeme Murty said: “We feel for him. We talked to him. Obviously, we've got a close relationship with Jewi. We've known him for a long time now and, on a human level, when you look at that and dealing with that disappointment, we just have to be someone that they can talk to.

“When we see that kind of thing happen, we have to put aside the performance part of it and the football part of it and just make sure as a person they're okay. That's what we're trying to do. Jewi's generally a bubbly kind of guy so we'll make sure that we keep an eye on him over the next couple of weeks.”

Nathan Jones happy with ‘strong’ January window

Despite failing to sign the Sunderland man, Nathan Jones was happy with the business completed by Charlton Athletic during the January window. The Addicks are looking to push for a play-off place over the run-in.

He told the club website: "The big thing for us, which should never be understated, is how strong we’ve been in the window in terms of keeping hold of our own players because we’ve been tested on numerous occasions from teams higher up the pyramid that have wanted our players. 

"I thank the Board and I thank the owners that we’ve been really strong on that, and we’ve fended off everyone because we’re trying to build something. It would be far easier and maybe in the past it would have been a lot easier to just cash in, but we see the long-term value and that's what building a squad and building the club is all about. That’s why it’s been a really, really productive window because it’s all very good bringing in a load of players, but if you’ve already got that quality in the club, and it's coveted, then the priority is to keep it."

In other news, QPR manager Marti Cifuentes has pointed at foul Portsmouth play as the reason for an R’s injury this week.