It has been heartening to see Hull City being connected to some strikers this week, even though truth is often a secondary commodity within transfer gossip, behind that of intrigue.
If Phil Brown was told to name just one area of the squad to strengthen, he would immediately point to the need for firepower. Proper goalscorers. Chaps who are either proven at Premier League level or at least have real potential to show they are capable of mixing it with the best defenders and outwitting the best goalkeepers.
It's not rocket science. City could do with some extra brute force in the centre of midfield and some extra quality on the flanks, especially the left. The defence needs a right back (more so now that Sam Ricketts is apparently reluctant to extend his deal) and a spare centre back would be handy in case Kamil Zayatte proves too wayward, Anthony Gardner too unfit and deferred arrival Stephen Mouyokolo too slow to settle. But beyond any of this, they need hitmen. The real thing.
Our best finisher - assuming we restrict it to specialist centre forwards and therefore discount Geovanni - is Daniel Cousin, who is ageing, not always fit and has publicly cast his eye on a big payday in the Middle East before giving up the game. After that we have Caleb Folan and Craig Fagan, whose collective aptitude for composure, anticipation and ruthlessness in front of goal is, especially in Folan's case, beyond unimpressive. Manucho has gone back to Manchester United but had become not the most dedicated barn door enthusiast we'd ever seen. His predecessor on loan, Marlon King, is a fine finisher but has clear character flaws which tarnish his obvious ability. We did miss King for his marksmanship, if not his networking skills, when he flounced out of the KC Stadium in January, and only now are we able to really replace him to everyone's satisfaction.
Three players have so far been dangled, via the tabloids, in front of the City fans' collective nostrils, with the club confirming any interest in just one. That is Fraizer Campbell, hero of the promotion campaign when on loan from Manchester United. He has had a season of frustration at Tottenham Hotspur, borrowed by a manager heading helplessly for the exit and ignored by his successor who instead chose to re-acquire the two experienced forwards flogged by the club over the previous year. Campbell epitomises suitability for Hull City, providing we can envisage the risk which comes with signing a player who can outplay the entire Championship but still has no visible Premier League pedigree. He adores the club, has reasons to thank the manager, will get all the leeway he needs (and more) from the fans and will know that there will be no massive outlay on more proven (and expensive) superstars to dent his progress.
The talk is of a £45,000 a week deal for Campbell. Not being party to the club's wage structure, I'd nonetheless suppose that no other player - including Cousin, Geovanni or even Jimmy Bullard - is on this sort of money. To pay it to an unproven kid who is being signed on trust as much as anything else (as well as £6m to his club) is quite a bold step by the Tigers. But Campbell has to be worth it.
The other two names mentioned - Kevin Davies and Marlon Harewood - are longer in the tooth and will be purchased with their attitudes and reputations already set down for them. Davies in particular is a much-admired centre forward at this level and should be expected, in the event of his arrival, to just carry on with City where he left off with Bolton Wanderers. Harewood has been frozen out by Aston Villa but has distinct capabilities at this level. Neither of these established figures will get any settling time, despite being cheaper acquisitions in both fees and wages. Campbell will cost more but the paradox is that less will be expected of him, initially at least.
It's good that these connections are being made, but the club have made no comment and aired no confirmation or otherwise on Davies or Harewood. As far as I'm concerned, I'd sign all three of the blighters. The lack of goals last season was easily the most visible aspect of our demise. With two of these three feeding off any combination of Bullard, Geovanni, Bernard Mendy, Nick Barmby and Richard Garcia, goals would hopefully be far easier to come by.
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