Derby County have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Charlton Athletic star Thierry Small as the Addicks have taken up the option to extend the fullback’s contract by one year, according to reports.
The Rams have confirmed promotion back to the Championship after spending two seasons in League One. Paul Warne’s men ended the campaign five points clear of the play-off places following a 2-0 win at home to Carlisle United on the final day.
Work has been taking place behind the scenes to strengthen the squad ahead of what will be a gruelling season in England’s second tier next season. Football Insider reported last week that Derby County have been keeping tabs on Small’s situation at The Valley.
The English defender moved to Charlton back in February on a six-month contract when the South London club were threatened with relegation to League Two and became an integral part of Nathan Jones’ team that went 14 games unbeaten towards the back end of the season.
The former Southampton and Everton fullback made 14 appearances for the Addicks in League One, making a lasting impression on the club’s fans. Now, according to the South London Press, Charlton Athletic have extended his deal by one year, keeping him as part of Jones’ side ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
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Charlton had until the middle of this month to trigger the extension of his contract by a further year which they are now set to announce, dealing a blow to Derby County who would have had the opportunity to sign Small for free this summer.
Writer’s View
It was always likely that the Addicks would keep hold of the 19-year-old for another season, particularly due to the reported interest from Derby County. Now, the Rams will be forced to fork out a fee for Small should they continue their pursuit over the coming months.
This deal now seems unlikely to come to fruition unless Derby are willing to offer Charlton money this summer. However, there will certainly be other targets that the Pride Park club are looking at so it certainly won’t be season-defining news.
Deputy Head of Writing
