Leyton Orient surely risk exit of ‘unbelievable talent’ if they lose League One play-off final, £1m offer could return

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Charlton Athletic arguably go into the League One play-off final as slight favourites, but for Leyton Orient it’s a must-win game in more ways than one.

Both clubs have shot up the League One table over the last few months after impressive form, and now, Wembley awaits Charlton and Leyton Orient.

While Nathan Jones has got his Charlton side set up to be strong defensively, Orient possess some top talent that can hurt any team, like Jamie Donley and Charlie Kelman.

However, Richie Wellens has another player in his squad whom he will be praying is still here next season, and earning promotion might be the only way to ensure that.

• READ MORE: Charlton Athletic may have unknowingly handed Leyton Orient big advantage ahead of League One play-off final

Ethan Galbraith is a key man for Leyton Orient

Leyton Orient have relied heavily on loan players like the aforementioned Kelman and Donley — the top goalscorer and top assister in League One — as well as the likes of Josh Keeley in goal and Jack Currie in defence.

However, the man who really makes them tick is Ethan Galbraith. The 24-year-old was signed from Manchester United on a free transfer back in 2023, and has firmly established himself as a key figure under Wellens this season.

The versatile Northern Ireland international has filled in at right-back, central midfield, and on both flanks this season across his 50 appearances in all competitions. He has also registered six goals and eight assists.

Wellens has described Galbraith as an “unbelievable talent”, citing his “energy, sharpness, touch, control, and skill” as being vital to both the player and the team’s success this year.

More recently, Wellens claimed Galbraith is a “Premier League player in the making”. That kind of talk may be premature for now, but he’s not far off.

• READ MORE: Nathan Jones shares stance on Charlton Athletic future ahead of League One play-off clash

Swansea City were knocked back in January pursuit of Ethan Galbraith

The thing is, we already know that Leyton Orient rejected a £1m offer for Galbraith from Swansea City in the January transfer window (as per Football Insider).

Now, if Orient do win on Sunday and get promoted, that decision to fight to keep Galbraith will look like a masterstroke. He’s been so influential in helping them get this far, and to have him on their side next season would be a huge help in trying to survive in the Championship.

However, if Orient lose to Charlton, they will more than likely have to let Galbraith go in the summer transfer window. And, there is always the risk that bigger clubs will look at a team confined to League One for another year and think they can run down the price on the player.

As things stand, Galbraith’s current deal expires next month, but there is an option for another year that Leyton Orient will surely trigger. However, that may only slow down the process of his exit rather than stop it entirely.

With a year at most left on his deal, rivals will smell blood in the water and be keen to get a bargain. By this time next week, that £1m offer back in January may well be a distant memory.