Last updated at 11:53, Monday, 09 July 2012

Carlisle United boss Greg Abbott expects to hear today if he has landed his third summer signing.

Greg Abbott

Abbott has been involved in a four-way fight for the signature of his latest target after the arrival of defender Mike Edwards and forward Danny Cadamarteri.

He met the player at a secret location last week, but the potential new signing was due to hold talks with three other clubs, before giving United an answer.

Abbott was due to speak to him again over the weekend in a last-ditch bid to persuade him to come to Brunton Park.

The Blues boss is also expecting at least two more trialists to check in at pre-season training today.

He will continue to cast an eye over five trialists who linked up with the club for the first day of pre-season training on Thursday.

Italian defender Alessio Bugno, former Huddersfield teenager Harrison Blakey, ex-Cardiff City youngster Jonathan Meades, highly-rated Darlington striker Dale Hopson and Workington Reds keeper Aaron Taylor are all hoping to win full-time deals.

Long-serving Carlisle defender Peter Murphy is expected to sign his new contract this week after a further round of talks with Abbott on Thursday.

The signs are the popular Irishman will agree new terms to take his Carlisle career to an 11th season.

First published at 11:28, Monday, 09 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk