CHARLTON manager Alan Pardew is set to make Frenchman Therry Racon his 13th summer signing after agreeing a fee of 550,000 euros with his club Guingcamp.

Racon, described by Pardew as a creative midfielder, was at The Valley on Friday undergoing a medical in preparation for the signing of a four-year contract.

"He's a central midfield player with tremendous athletic ability and agility," said Pardew. "He is also very composed on the ball.

"The midfield department is an area I feel we needed to strengthen and he and the returning Zheng Zhi will increase competition."

And Pardew confirmed that he wants to carry on spending with a central defender the priority after the sale of Souleymane Diawara to Bordeaux.

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