ERHUN Oztumer was poised to sign for Charlton Athletic on deadline day before the collapse of Ched Evans’ move from Sheffield United.

Addicks boss Lee Bowyer revealed that he had agreed terms to take the 27-year-old playmaker on loan, on the proviso that Evans’ own loan went ahead.

Fleetwood Town refused to sign a release form allowing the striker to cut his loan in League One short – which left Wanderers frustrated in the final throes of the January window.

But down in South London Bowyer said he was equally upset that the move had not enabled him to bring in the former Walsall and Peterborough United star.

"I feel sorry for the lad," Bowyer told the South London Press. “He was at the ground to sign the papers. But because there was no number nine available, we went for the best number 10 who scores goals.

"In the last couple of seasons he has scored 15 goals and got 10 assists in both of them.

"We had a back-up plan which all went pear-shaped. It was reliant on Bolton bringing in Ched Evans - who then scored against us at the weekend!

"The kid was gutted. We had it all lined-up but it didn't go our way."

Oztumer has been out of the matchday squad completely in recent weeks and has managed just eight league starts since signing on a free transfer last summer.