Oxford United and Charlton Athletic are weighing up a move for Luton Town midfielder Luke Berry who is leaving the club as a free agent, as per journalist Darren Witcoop.
The Hatters made a good account for themselves in the top flight last season after achieving an unlikely promotion from the Championship.
Rob Edwards possessed a squad full of spirit, and while they finished six-points inside the drop zone, they can certainly be proud of their efforts.
Preparations now get underway for next season though, as Luton will be aiming to reach the play-off places once again. The club published their retained list on Friday (24th May), and some big decisions were made regarding the first-team.
Dan Potts, Luke Berry, Fred Onyedinma, Elliot Thorpe and Admiral Muskwe are all set for release upon the expiry of their contracts this summer, which is sad news for all Luton supporters.
They will be saying goodbye to players who were a part of some of their most historic moments in recent history.
Luton Town: Rob Edwards has to be seriously careful amid Ipswich Town saga – View
Edwards could potentially benefit from a move to Portman Road, but it may not be a risk worth taking.
Luke Berry is a name that will live long in the memories of Luton Town fans, as he has spent the last seven years at Kenilworth Road, and first signed for the club when they were in League Two.
Berry famously became the first person in Luton history to score a goal for the club in all four of the top divisions in English football.
Now, he seeks a new challenge, and it appears that he has a couple of suitors already.
Interest in Luke Berry
The midfielder is set to become a free agent this summer, which will be good news for a few EFL clubs looking for an experienced pro in the middle of the park.
On Sunday morning (26th May), it was revealed by journalist Darren Witcoop that Berry is already attracting plenty of interest from clubs around the EFL.
The two named by Witcoop were Charlton Athletic of League One, and Oxford United, who recently earned promotion to the Championship via the League One play-offs.
It is said that Nathan Jones is keen on a reunion with Berry, after the pair spent a long period of time together at Luton.
The best option for Berry
Nathan Jones and Luke Berry have a long-standing relationship following their time at Luton Town, so a move to Charlton Athletic would make a lot of sense for the 31-year-old. Jones’ current Charlton side were flirting with relegation in League One this season, but the Welshman was appointed in February and managed to steer the club clear of the drop zone.
Looking at next season, Charlton are likely to be one of the sides to look out for under Jones, so Berry could play a big part in a play-off-chasing campaign, something he has bundles of experience in already.
There is certainly an argument to be had about whether he is too good for League One. The midfielder made 17 Premier League appearances this season for Luton, scoring two goals and grabbing an assist, so to drop immediately to the third tier the following season seems a rapid fall.
|
Luke Berry’s Championship stats, as per Transfermarkt |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Apps |
Goals |
Assists |
|
2022/23 |
21 |
3 |
0 |
|
2021/22 |
13 |
6 |
2 |
|
2020/21 |
31 |
2 |
1 |
|
2019/20 |
21 |
1 |
2 |
Perhaps, at 31 years of age, he has at least one more season in the Championship left in him, and that is where Oxford United could be the perfect move. The U’s will be going into next season full of momentum following their play-off success, but must find experienced Championship players to add to their squad if they have any chance of survival.
Berry could be the perfect option on a free, as he has spent four full seasons in the second tier with Luton and could provide some much-needed experience in the middle of the park.