Oztumer and Lapslie leave on loan

Steve Gallen and Lee Bowyer found a bit of headroom in the constricted salary cap today.

George Lapslie, who has been at the club since he was 10 years old has moved to Mansfield Town in L2 on a season’s loan. Lapslie is popular but has been used sparingly and mostly out of position. He asked for a chance to play somewhere else as he clearly doesn’t feel he can claim a regular central midfield slot.

Mansfield should challenge for promotion and I hope that George is a major part of that.

It’s a season loan too for Erhun Oztumer. Sadly he really has done little to impress in his time at the club. It was now three season’s ago that he was shining at Walsall at this level, and despite most Addicks being pleased with his long drawn our capture his name will appear on the short list of fails from Gallen and Bowyer’s transfer dealings.

There was no shortage of commitment but his last appearance ended at half-time and he never even played after lockdown. Good luck to him at Bristol Rovers and with his contract over at the end of this season this gives Oz the chance to restart his career.

Bowyer obviously prefers Forster-Caskey and his flexibility, and this move could also signal the identity that Bowyer wants to play with this season.

A replacement midfielder of a different ilk awaits.