Joe Aribo heading towards Charlton Athletic door with Bundesliga in his sights as the next English export

The 22-year-old is free to speak to European clubs from January and looks set to reject a contract extension and Premier League interest for a move to Germany

Joe Aribo is favouring a move to the Bundesliga as he nears the Charlton exit (Getty)

Charlton Athletic midfielder Joe Aribo is set to be the latest English youngster to develop his career in Germany.

The 22-year-old has six months left on his contract at the Valley and is free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs next month.

Frankfurt and Benfica are at the front of the queue to sign the youngster, who has been one of the stars of Charlton's season so far, with Lee Bowyer's team currently fifth in League One.

Charlton have been trying to keep hold of Aribo for some time but he has fallen victim of Roland Duchatelet's cost-cutting measures. The club offered Aribo a new and improved long-term deal in the summer, only to withdraw it and then offer half as much money instead.

They have recently made one final bid to keep him with a new improved deal at the Valley but Aribo is much likelier to leave than to stay.

There is long-standing interest in the young midfielder from Tottenham, Southampton and Derby County, who were all keen on a potential £1m deal this summer. But the player is now seriously considering a move abroad, inspired by the recent successes of Jadon Sancho and Reiss Nelson in the Bundesliga, with a move there the likeliest outcome.

Aribo is wanted by Frankfurt and Benfica in Europe (Getty)

In recent years Charlton have sold Joe Gomez to Liverpool for £3.5m, Ademola Lookman to Everton for an initial £8m and Ezri Konsa to Brentford to £3m, but the club still languishes in League One under Duchatelet's ownership.