Exclusive: Ricky Holmes wants to leave Charlton Athletic as Sheffield United push for deal
Sheffield United are back in for Ricky Holmes – and the Charlton Athletic winger wants to go.
The South London Press reported earlier in the week that last season’s Player of the Year could be on the move before the window closed.
And it is understood that the Blades, who made a number of bids to sign Holmes in the summer and publicly courted the former Northampton Town wideman, are pushing hard for a deal despite a triple swoop to sign Ryan Leonard, James Wilson and Lee Evans.
Charlton manager Karl Robinson fought hard to keep the club’s star man in the close season and Holmes, 30, ended up penning a three-year contract. But the wideman made no secret of his desire to play above League One level and the fact that takeover talks at the South London club are not showing any signs of reaching fruition means they face a battle to even gain a top-six slot.
Robinson does not want Holmes to leave but United’s terms are a major financial increase and the tricky wideman would be re-united with Chris Wilder, his boss at Northampton Town where the pair enjoyed League Two title success, as well as a crack at the Championship while he is still in his peak years.
Robinson had said earlier this week that he would need to bring players in if Holmes was to go. But there are no indications that owner Roland Duchatelet – looking to sell – would sanction movement in the opposite direction.
Stephy Mavididi was signed early in the transfer window but the Arsenal youngster’s loan had already been set up before chief executive Katrien Meire stepped down to take on the same role at Sheffield Wednesday.
Holmes was an unused substitute in Charlton’s midweek EFL Trophy tie against Oxford United.
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Where is the loyalty of these players contracts mean nothing anymore
Can’t blame him.
Tragic what’s happening to Charlton…AGAIN?
Holmes will go that is a done deal Duchatelet wont turn anythink down where he can get money.
At this rate we will be lucky to stay up in this division.
I feel let down every time I think we are on the way up it back fires. When are we going to get some form of stability. Why do all our young and established players want to leave. I have been following the club since 1953 I live on the south coast and use the valley express when ever I can.