Many Charlton Athletic fans have weighed in on the news that their star striker Lyle Taylor has allegedly had his head turned by rival interest.
In an interview with South London Press, Lee Bowyer admitted to Richard Cawley that Charlton face an uphill task to try and keep their top goalscorer at the club.
Lyle Taylor, 29, was allegedly subjected to numerous bids from Brentford on deadline day, which included a juicy £4m offer snubbed by owner Roland Duchatelet, despite Taylor heading into the final 12 months of his contract.
Bowyer admitted that cash-strapped Charlton simply cannot compete with the wage packet that Brentford – and another unnamed Championship club – could potentially offer the forward and the manager has since admitted that Taylor’s head has been turned.
Quotes from Lee Bowyer here on Lyle Taylor. Admits it is going to be very hard to get #cafc star man signed up on a new deal. https://t.co/qxlagjN754 pic.twitter.com/b60awwKf79
— Richard Cawley (@RichSCawley) August 13, 2019
Despite Bowyer saying that Charlton were way off Brentford in terms of potential wages, he did add that the club will certainly be making an offer.
He said: “The player has got to want to sign a deal.
“The hardest thing now is his head has been turned by a very good contract offer by Brentford.
“We ain’t offering what Brentford are offering, we ain’t ever going to offer what Brentford are offering. But it is not just Brentford. There was another club interested in him but they didn’t want to pay the money – so they didn’t even make an offer. But we know they were interested in him.
“The most important thing is he is here and scoring goals.
“Of course we would like to tie him down – that’s blatantly obvious. But unfortunately, as everyone knows, money talks. For Lyle it is a difficult situation.
“We will be making him an improved offer, that’s for sure, then it is down to Lyle whether he wants to sign it. We have got a budget, that’s just the way it is.”
Taylor has been in great form this season, scoring in both of the Championship games Charlton have played as they have taken six points from a possible six.
Overall, he has bagged 27 times in 47 games for Charlton – showing just how important he is to the Addicks.
Many Charlton fans were unsurprisingly disappointed with the news. A lot of fans hold owner Roland Duchatelet to account, while a few others still have hope their star striker will stay, saying that Bowyer said a similar thing about Jonny Williams.
Here are some of the best responses below…
Be sold in Jan then i guess.
— Rob Waghorn (@Rob_Waghorn) August 13, 2019
Tbf bowyer said the same about the Jonny Williams scenario and look how that ended but all things aside doesn’t look like he will stay
— kyle_ (@Kylefrith141) August 13, 2019
I think Bow is prematurely thanking Roland.. would be a statement and a half (from RD) by whacking a huge contract on Lyle.
— Lew (@LewisH92) August 13, 2019
I say, match the Brentford offer and it's a good bet he'll stay. Over to you RD#RolandOut
— The Deal Addick (@AddicksDeal) August 13, 2019
Get the rat to offer more money and he’ll probably stay
— Kevin Russell (@mgbgtmidnight) August 13, 2019
If Lyle is banging them in from now till jan he will have his pick of top championship teams also few premiership teams similar to KAG I would guess.
— fred (@fredbarney2014) August 13, 2019
The problem is that while he hasn’t signed there is always that cloud over him and the fans knowing he isn’t committing . Our best hope is that RD sells and new owners give him what he wants but by then it will probably be too late .
— John Taylor (@JDT147) August 13, 2019
