Boa Morte and Kilbane on their way to Hull

January 13, 2009

HULL, England (AFP) – Premier League newcomers Hull have agreed a fee with West Ham for Portuguese winger Luis Boa Morte and are hoping to reach a similar accord with Wigan over Kevin Kilbane.

Manager Phil Brown is hopeful both deals can be concluded before Saturday’s meeting with Arsenal, and admitted he was keen to freshen up a squad that, after a strong start to their first campaign in the top flight, has won only once in their last 12 matches.

Brown, whose side face Newcastle in an FA Cup third-round replay on Wednesday, said: "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.

"They can’t play any part in the Newcastle game but hopefully by Thursday or Friday they will bear some fruit.

"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."

Boa Morte and Kilbane are both left-sided 31-year-olds who have struggled recently to secure starting places at their current clubs.

Brown is also in the market for a striker and a defender. "I would like in an ideal world maybe three or four players in and three or four out – but it is not an ideal world," he added. "To freshen the place up wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Written by: AFP

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