Karl Robinson says Charlton fended off interest in Ezri Konsa during the transfer window.

Konsa, who has been watched by Everton and Arsenal scouts in the past, is a product of the Addicks’ renowned academy.

He enjoyed a successful breakthrough season at the Valley last year, and is being monitored by Premier League clubs. Everton were the latest top-flight side to snatch a player from Charlton after signing Ademola Lookman in an £11m deal in January.

Despite Robinson acknowledging that Konsa will move to a bigger club one day, he says the youngster is happy to still be at Charlton.

He told News Shopper: “We had to fend off a little bit of interest. We just felt that we had to keep him for a period of time.

“We know at some stage, Ez will move on because of his quality that he possesses.

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“Because Ez is a centre-back he’s a late developer. The likes of Ademola Lookman, offensive players, can sometimes be played when you're winning 3-0 with a bit of unpredictability at the top end the pitch.

“But when you're bringing in a 19-year-old centre-back, their game-time is a little bit more reduced so he would've been one who went in as third choice with future aspirations.

“I said to Ez yesterday, ‘are you ok?’ and he said ‘yes - I want to be here’. You see with these young players they have an affinity with the club.

“That means far more to me than bringing someone in on a big contract because clubs like this are based on players who want to be here, on a desire and growth and understanding of the DNA of the club.

“Ezri Konsa is certainly one of those players. At this stage, is he disappointed that he is still at the football club? No, he’s just as excited as he was when he made his first-team debut. It just shows you the strength in him as a character and as a person.”

Konsa has begun the season behind Jason Pearce and Patrick Bauer in the pecking order, with his only starts coming in cup games.

He started in every one of his 39 appearances last term, and being on the bench is a new experience for the defender. 

When asked how he has responded to not playing regularly, Robinson added: “Unbelievably well, better than what he did last year when he was playing.

“He’s not happy, obviously, but is any player happy when they're not playing? The reason I went with Pat and Pearcy, I feel we are not the biggest team in the world so for set pieces we have two man mountains.

“We knew we had to have some sort of physicality in the team. Ez’s chance will come - one injury or one suspension and it’s his shirt to keep.”