Huddersfield Town had a fairytale season last term as David Wagner took an unexpected side all the way to the Premier League, but the Terriers had to start their summer activities quite late owing to their playoff schedule as compared to the other two teams, Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Like most other newly promoted sides in the top-flight football, they too have to manage this season with mostly discarded prospects and loanees. And if reports are to be believed, then Huddersfield are eyeing a move for Crystal Palace’s forgotten striker Fraizer Campbell. The 29-year-old centre-forward hasn’t managed to get a single start for the side last season with his time at Selhurst Park seemingly over.
And Wagner would now want to take his chances with him. The Manchester United youth product striker was once touted to be England’s future striking star, but things didn’t turn out so positively for the Huddersfield-born player. Now with very little time left in his professional career, a move to his boyhood club might see things changing.
Having played for teams like Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland, Hull City, Cardiff City and more, the striker is well acquainted with the rigours of English football and could be a decent addition for Wagner. Huddersfield Town have been a huge surprise this season and given that this is the first time the Terriers made a comeback to the Premier League after 45 years, their financial condition is obviously not as stable as Newcastle United or even Brighton & Hove Albion for that case.
Wagner would nonetheless have to get in players having Premier League experience with the available war chest and Campbell fits the bill perfectly. With his contract expiring this summer, the striker will be available for free and Huddersfield are expected to make a move.
Campbell have managed just 12 substitute appearances for Palace, where he has managed just one goal against former club Hull City. Christian Benteke has been quite effective for the Eagles and an injury free season for the Belgian meant Campbell was bound to get little chances. To compound that, Palace’s uncertainty in the league forced manager Sam Allardyce to always start with the best team.
However, Campbell undoubtedly has quality as we have seen in glimpses over the years and Wagner could make good use of him to increase their scoring tally. The Terriers have managed to score only 56 goals this season, which is the lowest among the top eight teams in the Championship table.
Wagner’s side has focused on being more solid defensively last season, winning more aerial duels and staying intact from set-pieces. Their two top-scorers have been Elias Kachunga and Nahki Wells scoring only 22 goals among them. Campbell can expect more first-team action at Kirklees Stadium.
