Charlton offer young new contract

Charlton have offered a new three-year contract to England defender Luke Young.

Although the right-back is not out of contract, the Barclays Premiership club have moved to secure the future of the club captain at The Valley.

Charlton plc chairman Richard Murray told the club’s official website, www.cafc.co.uk: “Luke is a key member of our squad and we have offered him a lucrative new deal.

“He is an England international and his performances over the past few seasons, including last term when he was the club captain, have been excellent.”

The 26-year-old former Tottenham player made his senior England debut against the United States in May 2005 and in the absence of the injured Gary Neville established himself as his country’s deputy right-back, helping Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side qualify for this summer’s World Cup.

Young has won seven caps, becoming the club’s highest appearance-maker for England in the process.

He just missed out on a place in the squad travelling to Germany – and was on the stand-by list before being forced to withdraw due to an ankle injury sustained in early April.

Charlton have so far released Francis Jeffers, Shaun Bartlett, Jonatan Johansson, Jay Bothroyd and Chris Perry this summer, while Jonathan Fortune has signed a new three-year deal.

Young goalkeepers Darren Randolph and Rob Elliot have also extended their contracts with the club.