Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:39 pm
Tony Watt’s future could be down to Jose Riga
16/01/19
by Jamie Kemble
Tony Watt’s future could be down to Jose Riga
Tony Watt’s future could be decided by new Charlton Athletic boss Jose Riga according to News Shopper. Watt spent a short-term loan deal at Cardiff City and was set to sign on a permanent basis but due to a transfer embargo placed upon the Bluebirds by the Football League, the deal was blocked and Watt has returned to London.
It was well-documented that Tony Watt would sign for Cardiff upon the expiry of his loan deal at the South Wales club but due to the transfer embargo enforced upon the Bluebirds towards the end of last week, the deal was blocked and the player has returned to his parent club.
The former Celtic striker returned to Charlton training on Tuesday morning after returning from his Cardiff City loan on Monday. Cardiff City CEO Ken Choo claimed Cardiff put a loan offer on the table which would see Watt stay at Cardiff until the end of the season but Charlton turned down the offer.
According to Wales Online, Charlton had relied on the £2 Million figure they were set to receive from Cardiff for Watt’s services in order to strengthen the squad in the January window. Charlton will now look to cash in on the 22-year-old but if they cannot find a new club then a loan deal may be revived later on in the January window.
News Shopper claim that returning manager Jose Riga will have a ‘central role’ to play in the decision regarding Tony Watt’s future. A significant number of Addicks supporters see Watt as their best striker and would be unhappy to see him leave the club on a permanent basis but it seems, one way or another that will be the case.
There were rumours of fellow Championship club Leeds United showing interest in Watt but there has been no further advancement on the link. Cardiff will now be hoping that little interest is shown in the former Standard Liege striker between now and the final week of the window.
Tony Watt is expected to feature in Charlton’s squad over the next few weeks if no offer is put in place and he will resume training at the Greenwich-based club. It will be interesting to see whether Jose Riga takes a liking to Watt over the next couple of weeks but at the moment, it seems unlikely that Watt’s future is at The Valley.