Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer has suggested that it will be a huge challenge for the club to convince star striker Lyle Taylor to sign a new contract.

Taylor has had a fast start to life in the Championship with the Addicks, scoring twice in two games for the South London side and helping them to second in the league.

However, the 29-year-old’s current deal is set to expire next summer, meaning he could walk away from the club as a free agent.

Taylor was the subject of a number of bids from Championship rivals Brentford, with Charlton understood to have rejected a £4 million bid from the Bees.

Charlton are currently believed to be under tight financial controls as owner Roland Duchatelet looks to sell the club.

Speaking to London News Online, Bowyer suggested that the financial situation and the attention of other clubs mean they may struggle to extend Taylor’s contract.

He said: “The player has got to want to sign a deal.

“The hardest thing now is his head has been turned by a very good contract offer by Brentford.

“We ain’t offering what Brentford are offering, we ain’t ever going to offer what Brentford are offering. But it is not just Brentford.

“There was another club interested in him but they didn’t want to pay the money – so they didn’t even make an offer. But we know they were interested in him.

“The most important thing is he is here and scoring goals.

“Of course we would like to tie him down – that’s blatantly obvious. But unfortunately, as everyone knows, money talks. For Lyle, it is a difficult situation.

“We will be making him an improved offer, that’s for sure, then it is down to Lyle whether he wants to sign it. We have got a budget, that’s just the way it is.”

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The Verdict

Taylor has been a hugely important player since he arrived at Charlton in 2018.

The 29-year-old was the club’s top-scorer (25 goals) and top provider of assists (13) last season and has made a fantastic start in the 2019/20 campaign.

Bowyer’s comments are going to concern Charlton fans and rightly so, it is going to be really tough for the club to keep him and he will be a difficult man to replace.

It looks like their best chance financially would be the arrival of a new owner to the club, while continued strong performances on the pitch may convince Taylor that the Valley is the best place for him.