Saddlers hoping for a Matt Fryatt windfall

Walsall were today set for an unexpected winter windfall with Matty Fryatt on the brink of a £1.5m switch to Hull.

The striker is on the verge of linking up with former Leicester boss Nigel Pearson after the Tigers chief revealed yesterday they were in advanced talks.

The Saddlers negotiated a sell-on clause in the deal which took Fryatt to Leicester in 2006 and he has since scored 62 goals in 189 appearances for the Foxes.

Fryatt, who has also attracted interest from Swansea and Reading, came through the Saddlers' youth system and bagged 30 goals in 78 games before his move four years ago.

Leicester boss Sven-Goran Eriksson admitted Fryatt had changed his mind about staying to fight for his place at the Walkers Stadium after making just three starts under the former England boss.

He said: "When we spoke one-and-a-half months ago, he said he wanted to stay and fight for his place. But the situation is different now because clubs want to buy him.

"Like most young players, he wants to play games and I understand that. It is sad he cannot have more minutes on the pitch for us. He is a good player but I feel that I have better options."

The money would come as a massive boost to Walsall who are counting the cost of the big freeze which put paid to three home games this month.

The visits of Oldham, Southampton and Dagenham and Redbridge were all postponed due to a frozen pitch while the Boxing Day trip to Bristol Rovers was also lost to the weather.

The Saddlers are due to host Notts County on Saturday and hope to play their first game since a 1-0 win at Charlton on December 12.

League One relegation rivals County inched six points clear of second-bottom Saddlers after a 1-1 draw at Plymouth yesterday.