George Lapslie has joined League Two side Mansfield Town on a season-long loan.
Lee Bowyer explained the loan spell will allow the midfielder to play regular first-team football and also free up salary cap room for potential arrivals ahead of Friday’s 5pm transfer deadline.
The Charlton Manager said: “I think it is time for George to go and fly and develop his career further. He came to see me and Steve [Gallen] a few weeks ago and he was the one that put it to us and we both agreed that now is the time for him to go and develop and progress in his own career and this is a stepping stone towards that."
The 23-year-old joined the club at the age of 10, graduating from the academy scoring on his Charlton debut in the EFL Trophy in 2017. He has gone on to start 26 games for the club, making and additional 28 appearances from the substitutes bench, netting three goals for the first team.
The transfer window slams shut at 5pm on Friday and Bowyer said that the loan deal will give him and Steve Gallen a bit more flexibility as they aim to add to their squad. He said: “Because the cap is so tight, the loan frees up a little bit that we can maybe use the money for elsewhere, so that is what we are looking to do.”