Patrick Bauer will be offered a new contract by Charlton Athletic after scoring the goal that secured The Addicks' return to the Championship, manager Lee Bowyer has confirmed.

With Charlton level at 1-1 with Sunderland deep into added time in the League One play-off final, captain Bauer stepped forward to scramble home a 94th minute winner and secure the London side's place in the Championship for the first time since 2016.

Bauer is out of contract at The Valley at the end of the season, and is expected to be a target for Championship side Blackburn in the summer transfer window, but Charlton boss Lee Bowyer is now optimistic that the club may be able to hold onto the German defender.

Speaking to in his post match press conference which Football League World attended, Bowyer said: “We can go to Pat now and offer Pat a contract.

“Because we had to get promotion to be able to even talk to Pat, because he was 100 per cent going to go to the Championship. We knew that. So that’s someone we need to speak to."

In total, Bauer has made 135 appearances for Charlton since joining from Portuguese side Maritmo in the summer of 2015.

The Verdict

This will be a big boost for Charlton if they can secure a new contract for Bauer.

The German defender has been a huge presence in defence for Charlton to help secure their place in in the Championship next season, and his leadership as captain on the pitch has been just as important.

The player is sure to still have offers from elsewhere, but the Londoners will feel they have a good chance of keeping Bauer after yesterday's win.

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