Charlton have all but accepted defeat in their attempts to retain the services of play-off hero Patrick Bauer.

According to reports in the Lancs Live, the trio of Wigan, Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers have all tabled tempting contract offers for the 26-year-old defender.

The German joined the Addicks in 2015 from Maritimo on a four-year contract, and despite Lee Bowyer offering Bauer fresh terms with his contract up this summer, the package proposed falls some way short of what other Championship clubs can offer.

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Preston are thought to be leading the chase for the former Stuttgart man, although Blackburn have been long time admirers of the centre back having made an approach for his signature 12-months ago.

Tony Mowbray’s Rovers are looking to add two central defenders to their squad this summer, having finished the season with one of the worst defensive records in the division, and they see Bauer as the man to rectify their porous backline.

There were rumours that Rangers were monitoring Bauer’s situation but it’s though that Steven Gerrard’s side could not compete with the Championship clubs for his signature.

Bauer has made over 130 appearances for The Addicks and was the mainstay of a defensive unit that went 17 games unbeaten at home on their way to play-off glory, where the man affectionately known as the BFG sealed promotion with his first goal of the season deep in injury time.

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