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Swansea seem intent on raiding the West London club in pre-season as they have already snapped up midfield man Darren Pratley and are believed to be interested in Zeshan Rehman, although Rehman is still under a two-year contract at Craven Cottage. Meanwhile leaving the club is Welsh international defender Sam Ricketts, who has joined Championship outfit Hull City for £300,000. The Swans were determined to keep hold of the 24-year-old full-back but the size of Hull's bid triggered a clause in his deal which meant he could speak to other clubs. Swansea have included a sell-on clause in the player's contract though should he move on from Hull as he has made such rapid progress since joining the club from non-league Telford in 2004.
Ricketts saying to BBC Sport Wales about the move : "I owe Kenny (Jackett) and Swansea a lot for taking a chance on me, I wish them all the best for the future as I join Hull. Leaving was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, there were some real mixed emotions, but I couldn't miss the chance of Championship football. I wasn't looking for a move - I've just bought a new house in Swansea - but Hull came in and it was a great opportunity. I went to see them and the set-up impressed me, they are a couple of years ahead of Swansea in terms of their off-field operations. I'm sure that Swansea will get to that level and I will be keeping a close eye on their progress, but it is going to take a few years."
Jackett himself has been the subject of contract talks at the Liberty Stadium, the 44-year old, who joined the club in April 2004, inking a new two-year deal which keeps him at Swansea until the end of the 2008-09 season. Swans chairman Huw Jenkins being keen to keep Jackett at the helm after he won the club promotion to League One in his first full season in charge in 2004-05, and took Swansea to the play-off final last season. City could face a big battle to keep hold of midfielder Andy Robinson though with fresh contract talks seemingly stalling, and Championship sides Cardiff and Southend interested in the 26-year old, the Shrimpers having had a £150,000 offer rejected last month. Robinson said last week that he was keen to sign an extended contract offer that would take him to June 2008, but himself and Jenkins are reportedly still a long way apart on the valuation of that deal.
Meanwhile, in the rest of the division, Leeds are closing in on the signing of Millwall captain David Livermore, the 26-year old left-sided midfielder being expected to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical with the Elland Road club on Monday. Ex-Lions defender Sammy Igoe, who has scored three goals in two pre-season friendlies for Bristol Rovers, is expected to sign for the Gas next week, 30-year old Igoe having had a successful loan spell in the West Country last season. Staying at League Two Rovers winger Ali Gibb may have played his last game for the club, with Hartlepool interested in signing him, the midfielder having been left out of the squad for both of the Gas's pre-season matches so far.
Crewe have snapped up centre-half Darran Kempson on a one-year contract from Morecambe, the 22-year old having been on trial with the 'Alex recently. However Morecambe goalkeeper Scott Davies,19, Spurs left-back Marcel McKie, 21, and 29-year old Mali international Abdoulai Demba have not been awarded deals and have left the club. Ex-Crewe man Rodney Jack is also back with the Gresty Road side in an effort to get fit after only playing beach football in the Caribbean recently. On the South Coast, Brighton boss Mark McGhee has ended the trial periods of former Reading striker Liam Marum and Australian midfielder Dan Severino, neither player impressing in the Seagulls pre-season friendly win at Conference South outfit Bognor Regis Town.
Ex-Bradford City winger Owen Morrison is looking to sign up with Scottish Premier League side Dunfermline following a successful trial spell with the Pars. The 25-year old Northern Irishman having started his career with Sheffield Wednesday and played in the Premiership at the age of 17 before moving on for spells with Sheffield United, Stockport and then Bradford. New Peterborough boss Keith Alexander is looking to get himself out of a defensive pickle by signing former Posh man Guy Branston. The 27-year-old defender is out of contract at Oldham, so he is available on a free transfer and has joined the London Road outfit on a trial basis on their pre-season tour of Ireland.