by Lewis Ambrose

Hull City manager Steve Bruce has confirmed that a loan deal for Arsenal youngster Chuba Akpom is close to completion ahead of the new season.

The season begins on Saturday and Hull City are still looking for more firepower as they seek to gain promotion back into the Premier League. Last season the Tigers scored just 33 goals in 38 Premier League games, with top scorer Nikica Jelavić scoring just eight times.

In an attempt to score more in the fight for promotion this season Bruce is chasing talented Brentford winger Moses Odubajo as well as young Arsenal striker Akpom, and has confirmed they are in Hull for medicals on Monday.

“We’ve still got a little bit to do. I’m very confident that we’ve got Chuba and the same goes for Moses too,” revealed the former Manchester United centre-half.

“We’ve triggered the release clause (with Brentford) for Moses. They’re up in Hull ahead of medicals.

“All being well, I hope we can get them over the line. I’m never going to count my chickens but they’re just the type I’m looking for.”

Wenger had said that Akpom would not head out on loan but the player was used sparingly at the Emirates Cup and didn’t make the bench for the Community Shield, despite the absences of Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sánchez.

“I’ve got to add an injection of young, hungry players to go with the experienced ones we’ve got,” Bruce added.

“I believe that’s the best way of approaching the Championship and let’s hope I’m right.”

Arsenal don’t need Akpom, who is almost 20 years old, this season and he will need a bright spell in the Championship to secure a future at the Emirates Stadium. Loan moves to Coventry City, Brentford and Nottingham Forest have seen him gain some Football League experience but he is yet to score a professional goal.