Curbishley waits on Powell
00:00, 25 June 2004
CHARLTON boss Alan Curbishley is still waiting to find out whether former England defender Chris Powell will be at the club next season.
Powell has yet to sign the new contract offered to him earlier in the year, which would keep him at The Valley until the end of next season.
The 34-year-old made only 16 appearances last season, and has been linked with moves to West Ham and Ipswich, but Curbishley insists he is still in his plans.
Curbishley told the club’s website: “We’ve offered Powelly a contract which everyone knows about.
“I like to have him about. When he was called upon he came in and did well, and his presence means we can move Hermann Hreidarsson and Paul Konchesky about.”
Konchesky’s future is also still uncertain. The England international, who spent four months of last season on loan at Tottenham, has been on the transfer list for a year.
He has expressed his preference for playing at left-back, but spent most games from December until the end of the season on the left side of midfield.
Curbishley said: “Konch is still on the list and a decision will be made when he returns from holiday.
“He had a full Premiership season last year, if you include the games for Spurs and us, but once again hardly at left-back at all. I think Paul is one of those players just happy to be playing.”
Striker Carlton Cole’s future at The Valley also remains unclear. The Chelsea striker is reported to be refusing to return to Charlton next season, despite being contracted to play for them as part of the deal that took Scott Parker to Stamford Bridge.
Aston Villa boss David O’Leary is also thought to be interested in signing Cole as cover for Juan Pablo Angel and Darius Vassell.
Curbishley, meanwhile, appears to be closing in on highly-rated PSV Eindhoven striker Mateja Kezman, according to reports in Holland.
The Serbian, who has revealed his desire to play in the Premiership, has attracted interest from the likes of Aston Villa, Liverpool, Newcastle and Barcelona, but Curbishley remains favourite to sign him in a deal reported to be around £5m.
The Charlton boss is also being linked with a £4m move for Millwall's Australian international midfielder Tim Cahill.