If you assume Hooper is looking less likely, for which we only have the word of BA(Hons) Burns, then surely the next best deal would be Odemwinge.
Hooper would be better than Austin for me, except that as Strov pointed out, Hooper couldn't play up front on his own. We won't only get one striker though so it doesn't matter. Hooper and Holt would be perfect for me (although Holt is a tosser).
I like Austin. Liked Rhodes better, but they are both clever footballers. Also you have to admire Austin's character. To rise thru the ranks as quickly as he has done takes some doing and if you want a player who knows how to rise to a challenge and prove people wrong it's Charlie Austin. Fits the team spirit nicely I would have thought.
We do need to get a move on. He seems to be one of our primary targets but the problem is that most established clubs can afford to pay 5m for a striker and to then sit him on their bench just to ensure he's not scoring goals for us. Get the strikers in.
I don't think the teams that are capable of doing that are worried about him scoring goals for Hull, no offense
Well Humberside reporting a fee has been agreed for Austin and hooper a no go. Gedo back at the kc today for talks
Sorry Humberside not reporting Gedo back at the kc its what I was told at weekend. He is flying in today for talks with steve bruce
We've apparently had a bid accepted and it's just down to personal terms (with Austin) but there's now Stoke allegedly trying to 'hijack' the deal. McGregor should also be confirmed in the next day or two.
If this is true the outcome will depend on the personal ambition of the player. Does he want to be 4th choice at Stoke or 1st choice here? I'd be surprised if he made 10 starts next season if he went to Stoke.
Both the Mail and Blunderside think we've agreed a price for Austin, but Blunderside think the Hooper deal is dead, while the Mail are saying that it's progressing.
I think Stoke are trying to move on Crouch, which would leave Cameron Jerome and Kenwyne Jones as their only forwards (not counting Jon Walters, who I think plays out wide for them now). He'd be first choice at Stoke and wouldn't have too far to travel. This is why I said we should have just pushed the boat out and got him, we're fannying around again like we did last season. If the difference in cost is 500k, then just pay it and get him in. Stoke will be able to match us for spending power, they'e more established and a better bet to stay up than we are. If we don't get Hooper or Austin and we aren't going to get Bent, who does that leave as strikers we'd want to bring in? It's more worrying than it looks, so I hope we can push a deal through this week.
