LYLE TAYLOR, one of three Charlton players who refused to compete in the English Championship when the league resumed last month, has this week been heavily linked with a move to Nottingham Forest.

Goals

With the Monserrat captain’s contract at the Addicks having ended on June 30, there remain no firm offers on the table for the hot-shot striker, who has bagged 11 goals this term.

The London-born journeyman, recently on the radar with Scottish giants Rangers and Turkish top-flight club Galatasaray, refused to train or play with Charlton because he wanted to avoid an injury in order to get a move to another club.

But Rangers may not be a viable option as they could lose their manager Steven Gerrard, who upset Charlton last season when he signed Joe Aribo, to ambitious but underachieving Championship side Bristol City. 

It is Championship sides who appear most likely to swoop for Taylor with Forest now joining Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City who are all rumoured to be ready to snap him up. And Forest are in the chase to win a play-off place to battle it out to win promotion to the English Premier League.

I know it won’t sit well with people but it’s been a very hard decision to make (to leave Charlton)

Lyle Taylor

Taylor, who bagged 25 goals in all competitions last term to help Charlton win promotion from League One, has turned out for AFC Bournemouth, Falkirk, Millwall, Partick Thistle, Sheffield United and Scunthorpe United during a checkered career but is seeking one last shot in the top flight.

The 30-year-old striker explained to Sky Sports about his decision not play for Charlton in their relegation battle: “I’m gutted at the way it’s finishing (his Charlton career), but I don’t expect people to care. I know that once the damage is done it’s irreparable and I don’t really expect any sympathy.

“My reasons and concerns stem from my knee injury, which plays on the mind. It makes me think what would happen if I had an injury now that threatened the rest of my career. 
 
“I know it won’t sit well with people but it’s been a very hard decision to make (to leave Charlton). But there is something in the back of my head that says if you get a serious injury, then the chance you have worked and dreamed of since you were six-years-old is gone.”

Whether Taylor will be plying his trade in the top tier with Forest remains to be seen, with much depending on their promotion push and which division they compete in next season. And with his potential move to Istanbul outfit Galatasaray, who would offer him an opportunity to compete in the Champions League, gone quiet then another term in the Championship appears his most likely route.