Charlton boss Lee Bowyer has made a prediction regarding the future of Rangers linked Lyle Taylor, as quoted by the CAFC Official Twitter.
Back in December, a Sky Sports report linked the Gers and multiple EFL Championship sides with a potential January swoop for the striker.
Since then, he’s continued to play for the Addicks but has rejected a contract offer which was subsequently rescinded by the club [London News Online].
His current deal is set to expire in the summer.
However, when pushed on the issue, Bowyer has predicted that he’ll still have Taylor to call upon after the winter window shuts.
“It’s all guesswork,” he said, as quoted by the CAFC Official Twitter. “If you ask my honest opinion, I don’t think he’ll go.”
“But I didn’t think Conor [Gallagher] would go, so sometimes you can’t control it.”
Verdict
Bowyer is referring here to the surprise departure of midfielder Conor Gallagher, who was recalled from his season-long loan by Chelsea earlier in the week, only to be promptly shipped out to rival Championship club, Swansea City, shortly afterwards.
It’s clear that the manager doesn’t want to get Charlton fans’ hopes up too much by guaranteeing Taylor’s stay when he himself is uncertain.
However, he wouldn’t have made a prediction of this nature if a departure was imminent.
Following on from Steven Gerrard’s reassertion on Thursday that it would be a ‘quiet month in terms of incomings’ [Rangers FC Twitter], it looks at this point as though a deal for Taylor is unlikely.
While it’s understandable that the club don’t want to overreach themselves after several windows of rampant recruitment, some concern will linger across the second half of the season if there are only two out-and-out forwards at Ibrox.
In fact, due to Alfredo Morelos’ suspension, the Gers are heading into their first three matches of 2020 with Jermain Defoe as the sole genuine striking option.
