Transfer news

Transfer activity is hotting up as the pre-season friendlies begin and with only five weeks left to the big kick-off.

Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink is starting his, now annual, pre-season contract negotiations. This time, however, it's not for a naive new club, but with his existing Cardiff City. Poor Jim has a clause in his contract triggering a second season dependent upon the number of games played. Cardiff are claiming it was waived verbally. The PFA are involved and there is only one likely outcome. Expect to see Cardiff having to fork out to unload the large one. Should give him time to sell himself to the next unsuspecting Desperadoes.

Watford look to have a fight on their hands to hold on to ex-Charlton youth, Danny Shittu. Big Dan is attracting admiring glances from the bottom half of the Premier League as well as the Glasgow Churches. The Watford bluster looks like part of a negotiation to me and surely Shittu, now 27, deserves his shot at the big time?

Ben Thatcher is now out-of-contract and, having rejected a lessened deal of £250,000 a year, looks likely to be the 9th player to depart SE7. Still no takers for Bent and Faye; Hull are splashing the cash, having signed Geovanni and are showing an interest in Olofinjana. High time they showed some real ambition and laid out the £3m needed to secure their Premier League future....

Welling United on Wednesday evening in the opening game. I intend to pop along but there are several dependencies, including baby management. The Wings will be disappointed that the match is a night game as it will affect the attendance, in a match which traditionally provides them with their biggest takings of the season.

I am off to spend a couple of weeks in the Highlands towards the end of the month, so will likely see more of Inverness Cally, Elgin and Aberdeen than the mighty Addicks. I will see how things go (weather dependent) , but will consider cutting my holiday a few days short to be back for the open training session on 1st August. That promises to tell us probably as much as we'll learn from the friendlies.