Sorondo stays put

Charlton have agreed a second pre-contract deal in the space of a week by snapping up South American defender Gonzalo Sorondo.

The Uruguay international spent the 2005/06 campaign at The Valley on loan from Italian side Internazionale.

But with the 26-year-old's contract with the Serie A giants ending this summer, Charlton have moved swiftly to capture a second defender ahead of the 2006/07 campaign on a pre-contract basis.

Earlier this week the Addicks announced that US international Cory Gibbs, who will spend the summer in Germany at the World Cup, would join the club pending a work permit.

With 27 caps for his country, Sorondo endured a frustrating first season with Charlton as his progress was hampered by first suspension and then injury.

At the start of the campaign he served the final three matches of a suspension lingering from the previous season when he was on loan at Crystal Palace and then he couldn't find a way into a side that was near the top of the Premiership.

A testimonial game against Exeter City in October ended in disappointment when he sustained a hamstring injury, and his first Premiership match also ended in injury when he suffered a fractured foot following a late challenge by Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas on Boxing Day.

Against the Gunners Sorondo did show signs of his uncompromising defensive style, however, successfully shackling Thierry Henry until his departure, and those qualities were again evident in the final month of the season.

Returning to the fray against Everton at The Valley in April, he went on to start the last six matches of the season as any injury fears were put to bed.