Charlton Athletic supporters will surely be conflicted with potential signing of ex-West Ham United, Arsenal star.
Charlton Athletic have been connected with veteran former Arsenal and West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski this summer, but bringing him in would not be as simple as acquiring a fresh goalie.
Charlton won the League One play-off final against Leyton Orient to return to the Championship at the end of the 2024-25 season. Promotion necessitates further development of their first-team squad. It’s a significant jump up between these two divisions, and the Addicks have already completed their first move of the summer, signing midfielder Sonny Carey from Blackpool on a free transfer after his contract expired at Bloomfield Road. Fabianski has been touted as a potential big-name acquisition to Charlton on a free transfer following his release by West Ham, but this may not be the best option…
Charlton supporters will be wondering whether goalkeeper is a position they need to change this summer
But I supporters may be left wondering if the goalkeeping position at The Valley needs to be filled this summer. Will Mannion and Ashley Maynard-Brewer were Charlton’s two goalkeepers in 2024-25 season. Both received game time and showed promising indications of improvement, and supporters may wonder if it’s worth disturbing their growth to bring in a 40-year-old Fabianski as a backup option. Mannion expressed his satisfaction with Charlton’s goalkeeping arrangements in a September 2024 interview with the club website: “Me and Ash [Maynard-Brewer] have a good relationship, and we’ve got a good working group at the moment with Hendo [Stephen Henderson].” Everything is extremely positive at the moment moment.”
[Stephen Henderson]. It’s all very positive at the moment.”
| Charlton’s 2024-25 Goalkeepers (Transfermarkt) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Appearances | Clean Sheets | Minutes Played |
| Will Mannion | 34 | 16 | 3045 |
| Ashley Maynard-Brewer | 19 | 8 | 1665 |
The addition of another custodian would undoubtedly impede the development of two quality players currently in their ranks, and both Maynard-Brewer and Mannion will believe they demonstrated enough to compete for the starting position in the Championship next season.
Fabianski would add huge experience, but he wouldn’t come cheap
However, despite claims that Addicks manager Nathan Jones has rejected down the option to sign Fabianski in favour of adding another younger custodian to his squad, the rumours persist. There is a case to be made for Charlton bringing in a custodian of Lukasz Fabianski’s experience and quality, and the topic will undoubtedly divide Addicks fans. Fabianski spent 18 years in the Premier League with Arsenal, Swansea City, and West Ham United, and he earned 57 caps for Poland between 2006 and his decision to retire in 2021. He won the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2014 and was the custodian at West Ham when they won the Europa Conference League in 2023.
An experienced custodian can be an inspiring presence for a team facing the challenge of a new season in a new division, but even as a free transfer, Fabianski’s West Ham salary is estimated by Salary Sport to be £60,000 per week, more than three times their estimate for Charlton’s highest-earner during the 2024-25 season. He would not be making Premier League money in the Championship, but even if his wage was cut in half, he would still be the highest-paid player. And thus raises the question of whether it is worthwhile to spend so much money while causing so much inconvenience. Mannion and Maynard-Brewer both made considerable improvements last season, and claims suggest Nathan Jones would want to sign a younger third choice. indicate that the manager isn’t only looking towards the short-term.
Charlton supporters are correct to question whether Fabianski should be the club’s primary focus this summer.
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