Charlton top scorer Lyle Taylor is refusing to play for the Sky Bet Championship strugglers when the season resumes on June 20 as he fears an injury will stop him earning a "life-changing move" according to his manager Lee Bowyer.
Taylor is one of 15 Charlton players who are out of contract or will end their loan spells at The Valley on June 30, and he's the most high-profile as their 11-goal top scorer.
The 30-year-old was the subject of interest from the likes of West Brom, Swansea and Rangers during the January transfer window, and with the coronavirus pandemic hitting football finances hard, he could even earn a move higher up given his free agent status.
And it's the possibility of earning that big move that means Taylor won't play for Charlton again, as he fears he won't be able to focus on matters in hand with the prospect of injury ruining what could be a huge move in his career.
“He is going to get a life-changing move,” Charlton boss Lee Bowyer told talkSPORT. “I was saying this a few months ago when this first happened, when we were talking about the contract problem.
“I thought this could be a problem because I know how well Lyle has done for us. If it wasn’t for Lyle, we wouldn’t even be in this division. He was outstanding last season, he had a great start this season.
Championship relegation odds
- Luton - 1/8
- Barnsley - 1/6
- Charlton - 4/6
- Hull - 13/8
- Wigan - 9/2
"I don't think I'm asking too much. He's a Charlton player, he's done great for us for two years. In my eyes, you finish what you've started.
"Everyone has their own decision to make. What disappoints me the most, and he's in a difficult position, is that he wants to play but he's so worried about being injured that he's saying he wouldn't be the same player for me. He's going to get a life-changing move."
Charlton, who are 4/6 third favourites for relegation, are two points from safety at the bottom of the Championship and will now be facing a player crisis with so many of them being unavailable.
“It’s a difficult one for us,” Bowyer added. “We have 15 out of contract - we’ve got six loans and nine of our own contracted players out.
“They finish at the end of June and unfortunately for us three of them players have said that they’re not going to play.
“Lyle’s one of them and that’s tough for us, that’s tough for me as the manager. Lyle’s a big player for us – a bit like (Troy) Deeney at Watford. You know, similar situation – when he plays, we win games.
“Lyle has said that he’s not going to play because of risk of injury.
“Chris Solly said the same. Then we’ve got Davis, who is on loan from Birmingham, and he says he doesn’t want to come back and play games.”
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