Chief executive Steve Waggott's presence among the Charlton party that flew to Spain on Monday heightened speculation that central defender Madjid Bougherra is to be sold to Real Betis in a £2million deal.

The Charlton squad is based at Jerez for eight days, close to Seville-based Betis where Waggott is expected to finalise the deal for the 25-year-old Algerian international who cost £2.5million when he joined the Addicks from Sheffield Wednesday in January, 2007.

Last season, Bougherra made 29 starts for the club, scoring two goals.

If the deal is completed, he will follow strikers Marcus Bent and Chris Iwelumo out of The Valley. Bent joined Birmingham in a deal worth just over £1 million while Iwelumo signed for Wolves on Monday for £400,000, having joined Charlton on a free transfer from Colchester last May.

Charlton have confirmed that La Liga side Athletico Bilbao will provide the opposition for the club's only pre-season friendly at The Valley on Saturday, August 2.

Meanwhile, defender Ben Thatcher is hoping to win a contract with Championship rivals Ipswich Town after being made available on a free transfer by Charlton.

The 32-year-old left-back played for Ipswich in a friendly against Cliftonville on Monday and admitted afterwards: "I hope they offer me something."

A persistent thigh injury restricted Thatcher to 22 appearances last season. Though he was offered a new contract towards the end of last season, he decided to move on.