The Premier League champions are hoping to strike a £25m deal with Tottenham Hotspur for the Bulgarian international, though the move is believed to have been held up by the London club's desire to sign former striker Fredi Kanoute as a replacement before selling last season's joint-top scorer.

Sources in Manchester, however, suggest progress is likely to be made over the weekend and if Berbatov does join the European champions, Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to loan Campbell back to the Tigers for another season.

Hull, for their part, yesterday paved the way for the Huddersfield-born striker's return on a temporary basis by making Anthony Gardner's move permanent for a club record £2.5m fee.

The former England international had initially joined the Tigers on loan from Spurs last month with a view to a permanent deal being completed in the New Year. However, Marlon King's arrival on a season-long loan from Wigan Athletic on Wednesday meant Gardner's move had to be pushed through to prevent Hull from filling their quota of two loan players allowed by Premier League rules.

Hull officials are understandably reluctant to talk publicly about their hopes of bringing Campbell back to the KC with manager Phil Brown adopting a cautious tone last night.

He said: "We have left (the possibility of) a loan deal open just in case because we are still in the market for another striker. Whether that is a permanent deal or loan move, we will have to wait and see. You can read into it what you want."

Asked whether he believed Campbell's return was dependant on United signing Berbatov, Brown added: "I don't know. It is not really my place to talk about anyone else's business. It is for Sir Alex. He knows my intentions and where we stand over Fraizer. Hopefully, we are in the same ballpark as him."

On Hull's plans before the transfer window closes at the end of this month, Brown added: "We are not done yet. We still have one – or possibly two – players to come in."

One deal that seems certain to be completed before tomorrow's opening game at home to Fulham is a contract extension for Brown to keep him at the club until 2011. The 49-year-old said: "I am very close to signing. It is in the hands of my solicitor and, fingers crossed, I will sign it before Saturday.

"The talks took place over two or three nice evenings. The chairman is a friend, a confidant and a colleague. So, that made it simple."

Brown signing his new deal will complete a busy few days for the Tigers following the capture of King and the permanent addition of Gardner.

The Hull manager added: "Marlon has signed on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent deal. There was a loan fee involved and that will come off the final figure.

"Marlon took part in training for the first time (yesterday) and the missing link up front was there. He fills a gap because we weren't as creative as I wanted us to be in pre-season and we weren't scoring goals.

"He brings something different – he runs the channels, he gets behind the defence and he is strong in his hold-up play. And he brought all those assets to training.

"We watched him three or four times in pre-season and could see the fire had gone out of his belly with regards the move from Watford to Wigan (last January). But I am hoping to rekindle that fire.

"I want players with points to prove. Marlon wants to prove he is a Premier League player, wants to prove he is a Premier League goalscorer and he wants to be in Saturday's team.

"It is the same with Anthony. Like Marlon, he has a point to prove and, hopefully, we can get his career back on track."

Fulham, meanwhile, will be without record signing Andy Johnson for tomorrow's opener at the KC after Roy Hodgson revealed the England striker has picked up an injury.