Cureton Exit Looms

Colchester Valuation: £750,000

Hull City will step up the chance to prize a disillusioned Jamie Cureton away from Colchester United this weekend, after new Tigers chairman Paul Duffen re-affirmed the club’s interest yesterday.

Cureton, who scored 23 league goals last term to become Championship top scorer, is valued at £750,000 by the Essex side. They remain committed to securing his future and reportedly rejected a bid of around £250,000 from Hull on Monday.

At the time, Paul Duffen explained it was ‘common knowledge’ that Cureton had handed in a request to leave Layer Road. He added to those comments in the Hull Daily Mail yesterday, saying: “It’s a complicated situation but we are endeavouring to do something about it.”

Duffen added: “Jamie’s a quality player, I think he would fit very well into our system.”

In the wake of Colchester declaring the three-quarters-of-a-million price-tag for the forward, Duffen also said: “I think we will have some positive news early next week”, thus fuelling speculation that Cureton will swap Colchester for the KC Stadium.

Other candidates for the prolific 31-year-old are said to include Ipswich, Norwich, Leicester, Southampton, Plymouth, Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion and Charlton Athletic.