Hull keen to seal Campbell deal

Hull are confident of completing a deal for Manchester United's England Under-21 striker Fraizer Campbell in the near future.

The Tigers were given permission to speak to the 21-year-old after having a bid, thought to be a club record £6million, accepted earlier this month.

Reports over the weekend suggested the move had hit a snag due to complications over the final year of his United contract, but City are happy the player wants to join them.

Campbell, currently in Sweden for the European Under-21 Championship, had a successful loan spell at the KC Stadium during their 2007-08 promotion campaign.

Chairman Paul Duffen said: "We are in negotiations with Fraizer's advisors and we have got probably as far as we can for the time being.

"There may be some issues they need to finalise with his former club and that's something we can't get involved in.

"We need to do what we can do and wait to see what happens in the fullness of time.

"He is busy now playing in the European Under-21 Championship.

"We are in touch with his advisors and hopefully we can progress things shortly.

"The important thing is we get Fraizer Campbell at Hull City because we are the club he wants to play for."

Campbell is not likely to be the only new face up front next season with the club recognising the need to bolster their firepower.

Hull struggled for goals throughout their first season in the Premier League, but Duffen accepts they cannot compete at the top end of the market.

Duffen added: "The important thing for us is that we score more goals, so the focus on our strengthening in the summer will be on signing strikers who can score goals.

"We need to rely on the intelligence of our scouting network, trust our research and bring players into the club who have proved their abilities in other leagues or are of value because they haven't been maximised in the Premier League."

Source: Sporting Life
Date Published: 15 June 2009