“Darren Bent is a magnificent young player but don’t take anything away from Marcus (Bent) and Kevin (Lisbie) I will have to show what I can do I am up for that challenge. So Charlton came in and I made my decision straight away.”Hasselbaink believes he faces competition for a place. “I’m just like a little boy getting a little bit of candy, I’m very happy and ready to go.”He said he had come close to joining The Addicks last season. “We have a young manager, (Iain Dowie) we spoke and I’d almost signed in January for Charlton. There was speculation I was going to Celtic and yes we spoke, but it didn’t come to any conclusion. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is looking forward to joining forces with Darren Bent after admitting he feels like “a little boy getting a little bit of candy” having signed for Charlton yesterday.
The former Dutch international striker, 34, left Middlesbrough on a free transfer. And the former Chelsea striker is looking forward to teaming up with Bent, the Premiership’s leading English goalscorer last season.
“I have definitely still got the hunger and I think I’ve got at least two more years in me,” Hasselbaink said. If Milan are also found guilty in the match-fixing scandal and are relegated, Real will look to sign their Brazilian Kaka while Chelsea have been linked with a move for their defender Alessandro Nesta.. Lyon’s midfielder Mahamadou Diarra will be targeted if Real fail to prise Fabregas from Arsenal. Real have also been linked with Cannavaro’s Juventus team-mates Gianluca Zambrotta and Emerson, and possibly either one of the strike partnership of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Trezeguet. Cristiano Ronaldo has also been linked with the club and he and Marseilles winger Franck Rib? could both be an option if the Robben bid fails. But persuading Arsenal to sell Fabregas remains a far less realistic aim.
Real are hoping to offer Julio Baptista as part of a cash-plus-player exchange. The Brazilian, who can play in midfield or attack, was wanted by Arsenal’s manager Ars? Wenger last summer when he left Seville but chose a move to Madrid. Calderon said: “Arsenal were interested in Baptista last season and they still are, maybe something can be worked out.” Capello could also look to Manchester United’s Ruud van Nistelrooy as his new striker, although Real have balked at the 30-year-old’s £16m price tag. Real sense they have a chance of grabbing Robben if their spat with Chelsea can be smoothed over. Roberto Carlos’ proposed switch to Stamford Bridge could help the deal through.
