Neal Ardley plans to hold talks with Charlton today over the future of Michael Smith and has revealed he could even try to sign the striker on a permanent deal.
The tall frontman has been banging in the goals for fun at AFC Wimbledon since arriving on loan from the Championship outfit this summer, smashing nine in 20 games.
Dons manager Ardley will be in attendance this lunchtime as Wimbledon’s U21s travel to the Addicks for a development squad match.
He is hoping to grab a word with Charlton chief Chris Powell and Smith’s future will be top of the agenda, with the 22-year-old’s loan stint set to end at the start of January.
Wimbledon would be happy with an extension to that agreement, taking him through to the end of the season, but Ardley isn’t ruling out a transfer swoop for the youngster.
“I’ve always said it’s a three-way thing,” Ardley said. “They’ve got a contract situation with him. There’s things that could make it tricky for us.
“I’d like to think Michael would want to stay. We’ll have the talks and I get on well with Chris, he’s a great guy. He’s got his own issues with Charlton, trying to push them up the table.
“You never know how it’s going to go. He’s out of contract at Charlton in the summer.”
Smith’s expiring contract presents Charlton with something of a decision to make over his future and Ardley believes that puts Wimbledon in a strong bargaining position.
“Charlton have got a decision to make,” he said. “Are they going to offer him a new contract? Do they let it go to compensation? Does he turn it down if they do offer him one? There’s a million and one possibilities.
“It’s out of my hands and Chris will rightly be thinking about Charlton and what’s best for them. Smudger will be thinking, with his agent, about himself and about his career and his age. We’ll just be holding on and hoping to pick up the bits nicely.”
