Trevor On Transfers

Trevor Brooking is well aware that the 'silly season' of transfer gossip is upon us - but insists: Don't believe everything you read!

Supporters' concerns currently centre most around Joe Cole, of course, and the 'link' made between him and Chelsea.

Some claims have been made to suggest that a bid was actually made and then turned down, but the fact is, at the EGM, following a break for the counting of the votes, a television report prompted the question, on the resumption of the meeting, as to its veracity.

Chairman Terry Brown simply said that no bid had been made and that, in any case, the figure mentioned was 'derisory'.

And Trevor adds: "There was speculation about clubs being interested and Chelsea got a mention as having put a bid in - but that hasn't been the case.

"It is one of those situations where you will get some gossip but, to be frank, until and unless someone makes a concrete offer anyway there is nothing to discuss, and Joe is away with England."

Figures wantonly bandied about this week have included £5m in relation to Joe and £4m with regard to Fredi Kanoute, with a story saying Spurs are interested, but Trevor says: "The only guideline you can get is someone like David Dunn who is reported to have been linked with Birmingham and Everton for £5.5m and, as such, Blackburn have turned that down.

"If that is the case, where I'd be sitting, Joe is a better player than David Dunn, really.

"You just have to wait and see - but we want to keep that nucleus, including Joe. I am sure at some stage we will sit down with him and see what he has got in mind as well."

It has also variously been incorrectly reported that the transfer window opens in June, or that it is only open in the month of August, but in fact transfers could happen at any time until the end of that month.

However, as previously stated by Trevor, there is little anticipation of moves being finalised until pre-season training is underway in July.

Looking at the overall market, he says: "In January there were one or two signings for £1.5m or £2m and sometimes, if you look at that handful of transfers, they were squad players who didn't automatically play regularly in the first team.

"To an extent I think clubs would be better off investing £5m or £6m in one player who is definitely going to improve the side rather than two or three squad men who might flit in and out of it.

"That might be, though, because they have to extend the squad and so they do it from that point of view.

"But for quality players there is still a value."

* The pre-season campaign is still being fine tuned and a full list of games will appear when appropriate.

Thus far, the only confirmed games are, for the first team, Bournemouth away on Tuesday, July 15, and Wycombe Wanderers away on Tuesday, July 29.

There are also three games confirmed for the reserves, namely Purfleet away on July 16, Braintree away on July 30, and St. Albans away on August 4.