LYLE TAYLOR has described how his decision to join Charlton over Sunderland this week was based on football rather than money or location.

Rather than head to Wearside from Wimbledon, Taylor decided to opt for the Valley which is less than 20 miles east of where he had been playing his football last season.

But the 28-year-old, who was a free agent after his contract with the Dons expired, felt the lure of playing for Lee Bowyer was stronger after the Addicks’ strong finish to last season.

Now Taylor will be facing Sunderland in League One knowing the Black Cats squad will be completely different to the one which suffered relegation from the Championship last season.

Speaking to London News Online, the London-born Montserrat international said: "I am glad the manager (Lee Bowyer) wanted me to be here and worked as hard as he did for me to be here.

“I am grateful to him and Steve Gallon. And the owner for allowing it to happen. That is massive. Hopefully the way to thank them is to score goals.

"The way the manager wants to play is important. I had a meeting with the manager - we talked about a lot of things and that was one of them.

"It is important how the team want to play and what my role will be. That was part of the decision-making process.

"It always helps when you can see the previous of the manager, the players in the building, the squad is almost assembled. There is a few players in rather than wholesale changes. Hopefully there will be a continuation of what happened at the back end of last season, reaching the play-offs.

"It was not crucial to stay at home. I am very family-orientated. But if it’s right for my career it is right for my career. There has been a lot said about another team in this league.

"The decision was not based on being away from home. If it was just based on money I would be there.

“This is a footballing decision and I can’t wait to get started and playing in front the crowd at The Valley. After playing here for AFC Wimbledon for two seasons, I can’t wait to be on the other side."

Sunderland have signed six players so far but are still looking for a striker after Taylor’s decision.

They have also offloaded a number of players already, with Wahbi Khazri edging closer to an exit.

The Tunisian is wanted backed at Rennes, where he spent last season on loan, but the French club believe a deal between Sunderland and St Etienne is closer.

Sabri Lamouchi, the Rennes manager, and Olivier Letang, the club’s president, have been discussing the player’s future and their desire to re-sign him.

Lamouchi said: “I know the president and the club haven’t stopped trying to convince Wahbi.

"As far as I know, he hasn’t signed anywhere else and hasn’t said no to us. We are doing what we can to ensure he’s with us because we know what he brings in the dressing room and what he’s brought.

“The president is doing what’s required in this dossier. Unfortunately, we aren’t the only ones, but it’s clear that keeping him would be a huge gain to continue what we already know we can do.”

Letang added: “We’re basically where we were a few weeks ago, saying the ball is in Wahbi’s court, with whom we’ve kept in touch regularly. We’re waiting for an answer. We’ll know more this week, one way or another.”