Bruce so close to Campbell

Wigan boss had agreed deal to land striker

Last updated: 4th September 2008

Bruce so close to Campbell

Campbell: Wigan move blocked

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Wigan boss Steve Bruce has revealed he was an 'inch away' from bringing Fraizer Campbell to the JJB Stadium.

Bruce had arranged a season-long loan deal with Manchester United for the highly-rated young striker, only to see his plans scuppered by Tottenham's late intervention.

As part of the transfer which took Dimitar Berbatov to Old Trafford, Spurs demanded Campbell's services on loan to bolster their striking options.

Bruce admitted he was only alerted to the forward's availability late on in the transfer window and had high hopes of getting his man, with Henri Camara then due to join Stoke in a £1million deal.

Agreed

He told the Wigan Evening Post: "We were an inch away from getting the boy. At 8.30pm on deadline night I thought it was a done deal - we had agreed everything with Manchester United and Sir Alex.

"Unfortunately I then got a telephone call from Sir Alex at about 9pm saying the deal was off because Campbell was having to go to Tottenham.

"Once he became ravelled up in the Berbatov deal, that scuppered us, which was a big shame.

"The kid is a good young player, he would have been a really good addition for us and was coming on a year's loan.

"At the weekend I hadn't envisaged doing any incoming business but then Campbell became possible because a proposed permanent transfer to Hull collapsed.

"That opened the door, I tried to get in and I thought we were going to be successful until right at the end."