Blackpool summer transfer target available on free transfer

Charlie Kirk is available on a free transfer after his contract with Charlton Athletic was terminated early. Kirk has left The Valley six months before his four-year deal was due to expire, and it could pave the way for Blackpool to re-sign him if they reignite their interest. 

The 25-year-old leaves Charlton having made 48 appearances over two seasons-and-a-half. He scored four goals and six assists and had loan spells at Bloomfield Road and Burton Albion. Kirk made eight appearances for Charlton this season but found himself out of favour since Michael Appleton's appointment. His last involvement with the South London club was a 61-minute appearance against Cray Valley Paper Mills in the first round of the FA Cup. 

Charlton’s Technical Director Andy Scott said to their official club website: “Unfortunately it hasn’t worked out for Charlie during his time here and he’s not been playing regular first-team football.

"We’ve come to an amicable agreement that frees up a bit of space ahead of the January window and allows Charlie to go and find a suitable opportunity to get back to enjoying playing regular football again. We wish him the very best for the future.”

Transfer guru Darren Witcoop revealed that Kirk was a target for Blackpool in the summer. Kirk was at Blackpool in the 2021/22 campaign, and played nine times under Neil Critchley, registering three assists. 

A return to Blackpool remains to be seen however and in Critchley’s second spell, he tends to favour formations that deploy wing-backs. Kirk is predominantly a winger and has played on the left-hand side for most of his career with brief spells at centre forward and in attacking midfield. 

To date, Kirk has made 278 appearances in professional football with 38 goals and 51 assists. He was at Crewe Alexandra for five years of his career and made 206 appearances for the Alex, and will have crossed paths with Critchley during his time there as a coach.