Charlton boss Lee Bowyer will be pleased his side is challenging at the sharp end this season as things could have been so different at one stage earlier this year.

A late flurry of signings in the transfer window has helped him build a decent squad and he may be looking to add further in January.

Most of the arrivals, of course, were on a free as he scoured his contact book and, with that said, we've taken a look at some of the best signings Charlton have made on a free, with the help of transfermarkt.

Some remain at the club, some do not, but all of them should be considered bargains...

Johann Berg Gudmundsson is now a Premier League footballer with Burnley but things started off for him in England at a senior level with Charlton back in 2014.

He was a real force in the Championship, ending the 15/16 season as joint-highest assist maker in the league despite the Addicks' relegation.

Joining after leaving AZ Alkmaar, he joined Burnley after that stellar individual campaign.

Yann Kermorgant was a real hero during his time at The Valley.

Few players achieve cult hero status at more than one club but the striker did so with his performances at Charlton and then at Reading.

He left Leicester City before moving to the Addicks, spending three years with the club and making nearly 90 league appearances during that time.

Stephen Henderson kept out a young Neil Etheridge to be Charlton's number 1 during his spell at The Valley, in the midst of Roland Duchatelet's tumultuous running of the club.

He joined on a free after leaving West Ham and racked up over 50 appears in a two-year spell at the club before Nottingham Forest took him as the Addicks needed to move his wages off of the books.

Lyle Taylor is a player Charlton fans might feel a bit sour about now but you cannot deny the impact that he had.

Joining after leaving AFC Wimbledon, the striker helped the Addicks into the Championship and impressed in the second tier too.

He could have helped them stay up last season, as well, but opted against that for fear of getting an injury scuppering his chances of a summer move.

Ben Amos has had to bide his time to start in goal for Charlton but it as though it's been worth the wait.

Dillon Phillips was excellent last season and Amos has had those big shoes to fill but has done so very well indeed this year.

He arrived from Bolton and it's rather impressive Charlton didn't have to pay a thing for him looking back.

Darren Pratley is another that arrived on a free from Bolton and he, too, has been crucial to the Addicks.

A regular ever since arriving at the club, his commitment has been unwavering with him proving reliable in both midfield and defence.

He leads by example on and off the field and it's obvious Lee Bowyer has a lot of faith in him.