Tigers hoping to welcome duo

Steve Luckings

• Last Updated: January 13. 2009 7:25PM UAE / January 13. 2009 3:25PM GMT

The Hull City captain Ian Ashbee right, in action at the weekend against Everton, could be welcoming as many as two new players by the end of this week if the club are successful in their negotiations with Luis Boa Morte and Kevin Kilbane. Keith Williams / Action Images

HULL // Hull hope to push through the signings of midfielders Luis Boa Morte from West Ham and Wigan’s Kevin Kilbane this week.

A fee has already been agreed with the Hammers for the signature of Boa Morte, who has struggled to cement a place in the Hammers first-team under Gianfranco Zola. Hull boss Phil Brown is set to turn his attentions to Republic of Ireland international Kilbane in a further effort to strengthen his squad who have shown signs of faltering in their maiden season in England’s Premier League despite a promising start.

“We have made progress, things are ongoing. The clubs have agreed terms on Luis Boa Morte and we are trying to agree terms on Kevin Kilbane, on a personal front as well,” Brown said today.

“We said at the start of the season we wanted to flood the place with Premier League quality and both those players have it in abundance.

“To get that quality of player in to Hull City would be great for the football club.”

The capture of both players would provide desperately needed cover on the left-hand side for Hull. Injuries to Andy Dawson and Anthony Gardner have left the Hungarian winger Peter Halmosi as the only recognised left-footed player in the Tigers’ ranks.

Boa Morte, a former Portugal international, has failed to replicate the form he showed at Fulham before joining the East London outfit in 2007, while Kilbane, a versatile player who can operate in midfield and at left-back, has been pushed down the pecking order at Wigan behind the likes of Maynor Figueroa and Olivier Kapo.

sluckings@thenational.ae
*With Agencies