Charlton Athletic have made a bid for Birmingham defender Harlee Dean, as reported by Vital Charlton.
What’s the story?
The Addicks are looking to sign the 28-year-old, who has 224 appearances at Championship level, during the January transfer window for £1.9m.
There is scepticism about whether their advances will be accepted though, as the centre-back has been a key figure for Birmingham, having made 23 league starts and one substitute appearance.
This comes with Lee Bowyer’s side going 15 games without keeping a clean sheet in the Championship – the most recent of those came in the 3-0 win over Derby County in October.
Looking in the wrong area
Despite the shocking nature of that statistic, it can be suggested that a centre-back should not be the priority for Charlton’s recruitment team.
That is because it is one area where there are a variety of strong options, and more importantly those who are fit – this is signified by the fact that captain Jason Pearce was confined to the bench against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, despite a back three being deployed.
With that considered, while Dean definitely has the potential to be an astute signing for Charlton given his Championship experience this term, they should be prioritising other areas of the team during their January recruitment drive.
Call yourself a Premier League expert? How much did each of these big-money January signings cost?
Jonny Williams and Tomer Hemed came off the bench against the Baggies, but it can be suggested that the midfield and attacking areas are in far greater need of reinforcement than centre-back.
The case for this is particularly strong up front, with Lyle Taylor and Macauley Bonne both out injured.
Following East Street Investments’ arrival, there seems to be a much greater willingness to move into the transfer market in order to strengthen the squad at Bowyer’s disposal.
However, if those efforts are to be optimised, Charlton need to ensure they are prioritising the right areas.
Meanwhile, Charlton fans showed their appreciation for one of the club’s key figures.
