Charlton Athletic 'set' to poach rivals as Birmingham City eye £3m windfall

Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones is keen to put his stamp on the Addicks' squad during the transfer window this summer as the club prepared to fight at the opposite end of the League One table next season.

One position that could see rejuvenation is between the sticks with a player from a League One rival club linked with a move to The Valley.

Charlton Athletic feature alongside Leyton Orient and Birmingham City in your Wednesday League One round-up.

Charlton Athletic ‘set’ to poach rivals

Charlton Athletic are set to bring Cambridge United goalkeeper Will Mannion to The Valley on a free transfer this summer. The 26-year-old will provide competition to Harry Isted and Ashley Maynard-Brewer between the sticks.

That's according to reporter Pete O'Rourke on X, with Mannion's contract at the U's expiring at the end of the month. The goalkeeper has been offered an extension by the League One outfit but is yet to sign a new deal after helping the club clinch survival last term.

The former England youth star has been with Cambridge since 2021 having come through the AFC Wimbledon youth academy before moving to Hull City and Pafos. Mannion made 14 appearances in League One last season, featuring in the side's last nine outings as they avoided the drop by four points.

Leyton Orient star pens new deal

Leyton Orient defender Dan Happe has agreed a new two-year deal with the club after an impressive season in League One.

The 25-year-old, who is a product of the O's academy, made 34 appearances in all competitions last season as the London outfit turned heads in the third tier. Happe made his debut for Orient in April 2017 and was part of the side which won the National League in 2019 and League Two in 2023.

Head Coach Richie Wellens said: “I’m so pleased that Happs has signed a new contract with us. He is a fantastic defender and brilliant person as well. Quality left-footed centre-backs are sought-after commodities in the game and we are lucky to have two of them in him and Jack Simpson.

“As well as defending, Happs is a big part of how we play on the ball. He starts a lot of our attacks with his distribution from the back. He can still get even better and next season I would like him to be more aggressive and to get himself a goal or two.”

Birmingham City hope for £3m windfall

How Birmingham City go about business this summer could depend on transfer news coming from Championship outfit Sunderland, according to BirminghamWorld.

Sourcing a new manager remains a priority for the recently relegated club but, after that, preparing a squad to fight in League One will be vital for the Blues' chances of bouncing straight back up into the Championship again.

Spending budget in the window could depend on whether or not Sunderland sell Jobe Bellingham amid reported interest from Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford.

The Black Cats signed the younger Bellingham brother from Birmingham City for just £3 million last summer, a lowly fee that was made possible thanks to a 15% sell-on clause.

It is reported that Sunderland could let the midfielder leave for around £20 million this summer, which would bring Birmingham City a windfall of £3 million - a sum that could go a long way in recruiting players with League One experience.