It was thought that Fraizer Campbell’s move to Hull City was a certainty, but in an interesting report in todays Evening Chronicle, it has been suggested that Campbell may backtrack and join Newcastle instead.
The report reads: NEWCASTLE United could yet hijack Hull City’s bid to sign England Under-21 ace Fraizer Campbell.
Sources in the North West who are close to the talented 21-year-old claim interest from the Magpies earlier this year has turned the young striker’s head.
And he is “intrigued” to see how developments unfold at St James’s Park in the next few weeks.
Understandably, Manchester United young gun Campbell has delayed a decision about his future until after England Under-21’s European Championship finals bid in Sweden, and told his international team-mates at the team’s hotel he was only focusing right now on helping bring the trophy back to English shores after his side beat Finland 2-1 in Halmstad last night.
And while that decision is likely to frustrate Hull manager Phil Brown and his chairman Paul Duffen, it could yet work in United’s favour, because by the time Campbell returns from England duty on June 29, Newcastle could be closer to a takeover with Alan Shearer in charge.
Leeds’ transfer-listed Jermaine Beckford is in a similar position, and it could also be argued that Newcastle may be a good career move long-term for the young strikers, despite relegation, with the Magpies one of the bookies’ favourites for promotion as it stands.
The North West source told the Chronicle today: “Fraizer has heard that Newcastle United are sniffing around. And he is intrigued to see how things pan out up there.
“He is well aware that there is some uncertainty at Newcastle at the moment. But he is waiting to see what the outcome of that is because this is such a crucial move in his career.”
Hull are also playing the waiting game and are keen to discover what the £6m-rated youngster wants to do on his return.
And City chairman Duffen said: “We have to convince him coming to Hull City is the best thing for his career.
“I believe the next step for Fraizer is to be at Hull, where he’ll get a start every week and the opportunity to score goals in the Premier League. That’s what he needs on his CV, in my opinion.”
Huddersfield-born Campbell has made just two appearances for Manchester United, but has enjoyed successful loan spells at both Hull, who he helped to promotion via the play-offs in 2008, and at Royal Antwerp, where he scored 21 times in 33 appearances.
Does Campbell think that he will score more goals as Newcastle try to bounce straight back up to the Premiership, than he will at Hill, who are expected to be involved in a relegation battle again next season?