Charlton Athletic has signed Joe Rankin-Costello from Blackburn Rovers, allegedly for £750,000.
Charlton Athletic are preparing for promotion to the Championship and have already been active in the transfer market. CAFC achieved promotion by defeating Leyton Orient in the League One play-off final.
Nathan Jones leads the Addicks, who have a seasoned manager and some excellent players on their roster. They have acquired more Championship pedigree through their transaction to date, but they are not finished in their quest to develop a side capable of consolidating a second-tier spot.
Recent speculations suggested a move for Blackburn Rovers utility man Joe Rankin-Costello, which has now been confirmed by the South London club.
Alan Nixon said that Charlton Athletic were preparing a £750,000 bid for the 25-year-old.
Charlton Athletic makes sound business decisions
At a rumoured £750,000, Rankin-Costello isn’t exactly a cheap signing for Charlton Athletic, but he’s not out of reach either.
The Addicks have done expensive transactions this summer and will most likely do more before the window closes.
CAFC, on the other hand, have signed Rankin-Costello from Blackburn Rovers, who has solid level experience and is quite versatile. He can play on the right as a full-back, wing-back, or winger, but he has also enjoyed playing as a box-to-box midfielder.
He was moved down the pecking order at Ewood Park, preparing the stage for his departure.
Why is Rankin-Costello a good fit for Jones?
Jones demonstrated considerable versatility with his formation last season, with Charlton Athletic frequently switching between a 3-5-2 and a 4-2-3-1. That requires hardworking and adaptable players, and if the Welshman is to do so again, Rankin-Costello is an ideal fit.
He could easily play on the right side as an adventurous full-back, burrowing into the midfield or sprinting down the right. He can also play as a wing-back, but Rankin-Costello can also excel as a central midfielder, transitioning from a deeper role to advanced positions where his technical ability and inventiveness – honed during his tenure as a no. 10 in his youth – can show.
In a versatile role, Rankin-Costello finished second in Blackburn Rovers’ Player of the Season poll for 2022/23. Unfortunately, he has not progressed as much as desired since then, but being at the pinnacle of his abilities and in a job that suits him demonstrates how beneficial he can be at Charlton Athletic.
Jones will be eager to get the most out of him at CAFC, and if he can, £750,000 may appear like a steal in the future.
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