HULL City are close to striking a £4m deal with Burnley to capture top target Charlie Austin following advanced talks between the clubs this week.
As reported by the Mail on Monday, Austin has emerged as the Tigers' favoured attacking option and has subsequently been the subject of an improved offer.
The two clubs are now understood to stand just £500,000 apart in their valuations of the 24-year-old and sources at the KC Stadium are increasingly confident an agreement can be reached in the coming days.
Burnley initially slapped a £7m price-tag on Austin. But with just 12 months remaining on his deal and no indication of an extended contract being signed, the Clarets are unable to risk losing him on a free transfer at the end of next season.
City are preying on that weakness and the chance to play Premier League football for the first time has its obvious appeal for a player plucked from non-league football four years ago.
A stunning return of 82 goals in 155 games with Swindon and Burnley have convinced Bruce of Austin's predatory instinct and his worth for a top-flight gamble.
In a statement released this evening, published in full below, Burnley say no club has yet met their valuation of Austin. However, City will hope a deal can be concluded before the weekend.City are still in the market for a second new striker and while Aston Villa's Darren Bent and Johan Elmander, formerly of Bolton and now with Galatasaray, have both been linked in national reports, City's sights are set elsewhere on a second attacking option to join Austin.
Celtic's Gary Hooper, the subject of a £4.5m bid last week, is now being monitored from a distance with the Tigers concerned the financial package will be beyond their reach, but Gent striker Ilombe Mboyo is also under consideration.
Reports in Belgium have linked the 26-year-old with a £6m switch to the KC and although that figure would need to fall for City to trade, the Mail has learned of definite interest from the Tigers.
Mboyo was prolific last term, scoring 20 goals in the Belgian top tier and is also being tracked by Anderlecht this summer, who will feature in the Champions League next term.
City have prioritised landing two new strikers and a new goalkeeper this summer, and a breakthrough is much closer for a new number one.
Despite returning with a final show of interest in Leicester City's Kasper Schmeichel this week, the Tigers are instead expected to complete a £1.8m deal to land Allan McGregor.
The Foxes' unwavering refusal to do business with City has convinced Bruce to end the chase and a move for McGregor will be pushed through in the coming weeks.
A fee has been agreed with Turkish club Besiktas to give former Rangers star McGregor a first move to England and though the 31-year-old is currently on holiday in Dubai, there appears to be no other obstacles blocking his move to become City's new number one.
5pm update: Burnley have released a statement this evening denying a deal for Austin has been reached. The statement reads: "There have been reports from various media sources saying that Burnley FC are close to striking a deal for striker Charlie Austin. These reports are wide of the mark. "Quite understandably there have been enquiries from a number of clubs but none have met Burnley's valuation of the player. "Charlie Austin remains part of the squad of Burnley as we prepare for next season's matches."• Complete fixtures for Hull City's 2013-14 Premier League season
