Youngster on loan

This has not been the firecracker of a day we hoped, but the Addicks have announced a second loan on transfer day with the acquisition of 20-year old Matt Smith from Man City.

On first view, it looks as if Man City have cancelled his season-loan to QPR to give him to Bowyer and Jacko to bring him on like they did Conor Gallagher, but Rangers long since planned to cancel his loan after Smith failed to make an impact at Loftus Road.

Smith has been at City since he was 14, and last season did very well on loan at Twente who he helped win the 2nd tier of Dutch football. He has 7 Welsh caps.

Steve Gallen said: “It’s something we said a lot in the summer about players, he’s got a point to prove. He was very, very keen to come to us, he was pushing to come and have a chance to play and get in our team and prove that he’s a good player at this level, so I’m pleased to get him in.”

So two loans, and no permanents thus far despite plenty of pledges from the chairman. Still a few hours left.

Meantime the club are set for a windfall from Tariqe Fosu’s surprise move from Oxford to Brentford. A significant sell-on is said to be in place.