Carlisle boss Greg Abbott eyes Danny Graham deal boost
Last updated on .From the section Football
Carlisle United manager Greg Abbott says the future of striker Danny Graham at Watford will have an impact on the club's summer transfer activity.
The Cumbrians have a clause that entitles them to a 15% cut of any transfer fee for Graham, who has attracted the interest of QPR.
"There's one proven goalscorer at the top of my list, who will be expensive," Abbott told BBC Radio Cumbria.
"If Danny Graham gets sold, that will make that one affordable."
Abbott added: "Maybe a few other clubs might get involved now QPR have shown their hand, and the fee might end up being bigger, which does affect the type of player we go after.
"The money if Danny did go would make things happen."
Graham has been a major success at Vicarage Road, scoring 41 goals, 27 of those last season, in just 98 appearances.
The Wallsend-born striker started his career at Middlesbrough, where he recorded just two goals in 21 appearances, before joining Carlisle initially on loan in January 2007.
He made the move permanent in June, having scored seven goals in 11 games, and went on to net a further 33 times in 102 matches before his switch to Watford in July 2009.
Meanwhile, Abbott has been working with former Bradford team-mate Ces Podd in St Lucia, helping the country ahead of the World Cup play-offs with Aruba.
The 47-year-old is overseeing training sessions, as well as assessing potential targets for Carlisle.
"It's a win-win situation, the players are raw, they're very much athletes, they're very quick, they're very strong," Abbott said.
"There's some natural talent here, and there's already two I would be thinking of bringing over to England and comparing them to what we've got.
"The national team and the Olympic team, every player bar one is under 24, so they're at the right age to develop and get better.
"This is the business side, we might be able to strike up an agreement and a link with the St Lucian people, bring the players over and compare."
