Hull City boss Phil Brown has confirmed that his club are close to signing Town target Daryl Murphy. The Irishman was part of the Blues' £5 million double deal with Sunderland also involving Dean Whitehead which collapsed over the weekend.

Murphy got as far as undergoing a medical with the Blues at the end of last week before the Tigers came in offering Premier League wages and top flight football.

Brown appeared to play down his interest in the striker yesterday, but now says the deal could be done by the end of the week: "It's advanced and we've spoken to Sunderland and agreed terms. Hopefully in the next 48 hours it might progress to a stage where we can complete a medical.

"It's an initial fee of £1.5 million building up to £2.5 million that has been agreed and I hope to meet with him on Thursday. Hopefully by then we'll have progressed it further."

It's the second time Town have come close to signing Murphy before missing out. The Irish international spent several spells on trial at Playford Road during 2004/05 before deciding to join Sunderland – who had recently been promoted to the Premier League – at the end of the season for €100,000, shortly after signing a new contract with Waterford to ensure that his hometown side received a fee.

Meanwhile, ex-Town striker Darren Bent is said to be strongly interesting Aston Villa, Sunderland previously being understood to be the favourites to take him from Spurs.

Former Town midfielder George O'Callaghan has joined Dean Bowditch as a trialist on Yeovil's pre-season tour of Devon. O'Callaghan left Dundalk earlier in the year after failing to settle with the Irish club.

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