AARON Mclean is edging closer towards the Hull City exit door with Ipswich joining the chase for his signature.
• 1pm update: Aaron Mclean has joined Ipswich on loan until the end of the season.
The Blues have emerged alongside Championship rivals Millwall as contenders to take the out-of-favour striker on loan. Mclean has been the subject of firm interest from the Lions this week and the Mail understands City boss Steve Bruce is willing to allow him to leave during the January window.Millwall's loan proposal would initially see the 29-year-old leave City until the end of the season, with the potential for a permanent switch in the summer.
Although the Tigers are yet to sanction any deal, Mclean's departure would provide Bruce with room for manoeuvre in his search for fresh attacking blood this month.
It remains to be seen if Mclean will be involved in City's FA Cup tie against his boyhood club Leyton Orient tomorrow but his days at the KC Stadium appear to be numbered.
Without a goal since October 6 in the Tigers' 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday, Mclean has started just one of the last 14 league games. City's last two games, against Leeds and Blackpool, have failed to see the forward even make the bench.
Mclean still has another 18 months remaining on his deal at the KC Stadium and any permanent move away would see City aiming to recoup a chunk of the £1.3m that brought him from Peterborough two years ago.
Despite winning fans' hearts with his peerless work-rate during his time in East Yorkshire, nine goals in 76 league appearances have failed to see Mclean justify his sizeable transfer fee.
The arrival of Sone Aluko on a free from Rangers and Nick Proschwitz for £2.6m from Paderborn last summer have limited Mclean's opportunities further during Bruce's reign and a return to the capital would have its obvious appeal for the Hammersmith-born forward.
City are in the market for a new forward and interest in Sunderland striker Fraizer Campbell shows little sign of fading.
The player's agent and father, Keith, told the Mail yesterday that the England international would be interested in rejoining the Tigers, four years after he fired them to promotion out of the Championship via the play-off final at Wembley.
