Chris Powell mentioned that he wanted to get some games into John Sullivan but if he did go out on loan, Powell would have to consider bringing in experienced cover for Ben Hamer.

There has been widespread speculation in the national and local press over the past couple of days that Tottenham’s David Button will arrive on a permanent deal before Friday’s deadline. Button has had many loan spells at lower division clubs and the 23-year-old has made 90 league appearances in his spells away from White Hart Lane.

If a deal is completed, it would probably see Sullivan leave The Valley on a permanent basis.

The Chris Solly to West Ham story has resurfaced again. The Hammers have allegedly had a bid turned down though Sam Allardyce has said any business the Hammers now do would be confined to the loan market.

The Hammers are well stocked with right-backs, Winston Reid and Joey O’Brien normally take the berth but they do have other options as well.

It looks like being a tough season for the East Londoners and it seems strange that they would want another right-back, particularly one who is unproven in the top-flight. Even stranger, if the story is correct, is Sam Baldock’s move to Bristol City last week. Baldock had been linked with a move to the Addicks all summer, and seemed warm to the idea of moving to The Valley, so why sell him if a bid for Solly was in the offing?

More surprisingly, Sky are reporting that Aston Villa have made a bid for classy central midfielder, Dale Stephens. Villa are another Premier League club that seem short of money at the present time, so Stephens may be seen as a relatively cheap option for them.

With ongoing uncertainty about Charlton’s financial situation, it is hard to know whether any funds received for player sales would be reinvested in new recruits. If a replacemnet for Stephens is on the agenda, Sheffield United’s Stephen Quinn, former Bolton midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, and pacy Wolves right-winger, Adam Hammill, are amongst the names being bandied about.

Only Reo-Coker would be a like-for-like replacement but a readjustment would allow Powell to introduce genuine wide players with speed.

There are also stories concerning Danny Green moving to Swindon, Scott Wagstaff to Nottingham Forest – though Forest are also thought to be interested in Hammill, and the Addicks are willing to listen to offers for Leon Clarke.

Powell would like to bring in Millwall’s Dany N’Guessan, who had a sucessful loan spell with the club last season. The Lions are happy to let N’Guessan go but want Charlton to match other offers that they have received for the player.

Hopefully, suitable acquisitions would be made to replace any departures. One thing is for certain, the next few days will be busy and interesting.