Bowyer transfer update on positions he is looking to bring in, Magennis and trialists

Charlton manager Lee Bowyer gave a transfer update following his team’s impressive 1-0 win at home to Championship outfit Norwich City.

The win completed an unbeaten pre-season and Bowyer spoke to the press after the game. Read what Bowyer had to say about the game here.

The highlights of the game are now available.

On transfers…

“We might lose one more, probably not anyone that anyone is thinking but I think we’ll be bringing in a lot more than we’ll be losing.” 

On positions he is looking to bring in…

“We have to bring a keeper in to have competition for Dill. You have to have healthy competition in every position and goalkeeping is no different. Dill knows that, we’ve spoken to him this week. We need a centre-half, a right-sided centre half, we’ve only got Pat (Bauer) in the building. Maybe another midfielder and maybe another striker.”

On the potential departure of Josh Magennis…

“It’s something I expected to happen. Obviously we brought Lyle Taylor in. We knew that Bolton were interested in Josh in January, so I thought they would come back in. Josh is a good player, he’s a Northern Irish international. I’m pleased for him because he’s a good pro and he gives everything. If it has gone through I wish him all the best and thank him for the services he’s given us.” 

On his squad…

"I believe in the squad of players I have. I’ve never doubted that, I said to the players yesterday ‘For me, once this squad, with the players we’ve got out injured at the moment, once they are all fit, we’re a better squad this season than we were last season in the time I was involved’. We’ve added Lyle Taylor to the squad who adds more goals. (We've added) Pratley to the squad who brings experience and fight, the two things I didn’t think we really had last season. I think that obviously we’re going to be bringing in a few more between now and the transfer window closing. Again I’ll only bring in people if it is going to make us better. I will only recommend someone to the owner that is going to make us better."

On why he didn’t play the trialists…

“I will make a decision probably sometime this week on the trialists because the most important thing for me was to get minutes into the legs of the lads that will be in and around the side for next weekend. That’s the most important thing, that’s what pre-season is about. When you come into the run-in of games you need to start playing your side or the side closest to it.”

On why he won’t rush in to signings...

“We’re picky, because the type of players we want there aren’t many out there. Like I’ve said before if I can’t get the exact type of player that I want I won’t bring on someone just for the sake of bringing them in. What’s the point in me wasting the money?”

On if he’ll get the job permanently…

“I think I deserve to be given it full time for sure. All I am here to do is improve the squad of players day in and day out with Jacko. We’re working hard and I think that’s showing. I think you saw that again today. The young lads have done very well. I think George Lapslie was excellent first half and all the young lads have been a credit to themselves. They’ve been with us most of pre-season. Anybody that has watched them lads last season in the U23s and then seen what they’ve been doing under us, they’ll be able to tell that there is a big difference.” 

The highlights of the game are now available on Valley Pass as is Bowyer's post-game press conference.

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