Nathan Jones hailed Southampton ace as the ‘best right back in the Championship’, Charlton move makes perfect sense

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Charlton Athletic’s recruitment team are reportedly working up until the transfer deadline as the Addicks look to bring in their 10th signing of the summer.

The Championship club have shed £10million upon their return to the second tier, which has included a reported £3.5million including a potential £1.5million in add-ons for Queens Park Rangers’ Charlie Kelman. An enquiry has also reportedly been made about Chelsea’s David Datro Fofana, although Preston North End look set to sign him.

Nathan Jones’ latest addition was Harvey Knibbs, who joined from Reading exactly a month ago. The Welshman has hinted heavily at needing further recruits, highlighting the need for a right wing back in particular. Charlton had approached Kyoto Sanga’s Shinnosuke Fukuda and were in talks with Dexter Lembikisa, but neither moves materialised.

Now, the Addicks are being linked with one of Jones’ former Luton Town players – yes, another one – and he is exactly what the club are after.

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Charlton working on a deal for Southampton’s James Bree

According to the Daily Echo in Southampton’s report on Monday morning, Charlton are likely to sign versatile right back James Bree before the window shuts.

Jones has previously prioritised permanent deals and utilising Charlton’s academy talent rather than bringing in loan signings from the Premier League or higher up the second tier.

However, the Echo report Bree’s move would in fact be a loan, even though his Southampton contract expires in 2026.

Richard Cawley via South London Sport also reported the Addicks are working on a deal for Bree, and the move is expected to go through.

27-year-old Bree previously played under Jones at Luton Town and Southampton, but that’s not the only reason he will be a smart addition to the Addicks’ squad.

Why James Bree is Charlton’s missing puzzle piece

Moving to Charlton makes perfect sense, and not just because Jones has worked with him at Kenilworth Road – just as new Addicks stars Amari’i Bell, Thomas Kaminski and Reece Burke did.

The former Premier League club need reinforcements on the right hand side, with Rob Apter playing at right wing back so far this season. Kayne Ramsay and Joe Rankin-Costello have also played there in their careers, but the duo are being deployed elsewhere this season so far.

Barnsley academy product Bree joined the Hatters under Jones in 2019, initially on loan, and went on to make 143 appearances for the club. The Welshman left for Southampton in November 2022, but brought Bree with him to St Mary’s in the following January transfer window.

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Discussing why he signed the ex-Aston Villa player after his arrival, Jones said: “We felt he was something we really needed. He’s done fantastically well for me in my previous club over a number of years.

“He’s really athletic, he’s quick, he’s technically wonderful. He’s a bit like Prowsey (James Ward-Prowse) in that way in terms of dead balls and in terms of delivery.

“And he’ll give us an addition because he can play as an attacking full-back, as a wing-back or as a right-sided centre-half. So that gives us another option to go to. Plus, he knows exactly how I like to play out, front-footed. He’s implemented that really well so it’s a really logical signing.”

He added: “Last year [at Luton in the 2021/22 season] he was the best right-back in the division for me in terms of productivity, in terms of everything he had, and then this year he has evolved into being able to do both. He’ll be a good signing.”

Bree has gone on to play 50 games for the Saints, scoring two goals and grabbing two assists, but the arrival of Danish international full-back Elias Jelert at St Mary’s has enabled the former to leave. He is yet to make any appearances this term after injuring his calf against Brighton in pre-season.

Jones will be hoping he can play the role he did at Luton again for him at The Valley.