By Russell Edge

30th Sep, 2020 | 4:28pm

Exclusive: Charlton Athletic set to beat Sunderland to signing after new Burnley deal rejected

Charlton Athletic are set to beat Sunderland to the signing of defender Ali Koiki on a free transfer after a breakthrough in talks, Football Insider understands.

The 21-year-old left-back turned down a new deal with Premier League side Burnley to become a free agent this summer and has had interest from several Football League sides during the transfer window.

A source at Charlton has told Football Insider that the Addicks have made significant progress in negotiations to lure him to The Valley and are set to complete a deal in the coming days.

The defender’s decision will come as a disappointment to fellow League One side Sunderland who have been in the market for a new left-sided defender ahead of the 5 October deadline.

Koiki, who was released by Crystal Palace as a youngster before he joined Burnley, failed to make a single first-team appearance for the Clarets, although he featured as an unused substitute four times, most recently in January 2020.

He spent the second half of the 2018/19 season out on loan at League Two outfit Swindon Town, where he played 15 times as both a left-back and a left-sided midfielder.

The versatile defender is now set to join Charlton as the Addicks look to bounce straight back from the disappointment of their relegation from the Championship last season.

Lee Bowyer’s men have made an indifferent start to the new campaign with one win and two defeats to their name in League One, while they were knocked out of the League Cup by West Ham.

In other Charlton news, it can be REVEALED the club have reignited a move to sign playmaker for nothing.