MARK Wright was yesterday trying to make striker Drewe Broughton his sixth signing of the close season.
The Chester City manager was in advanced talks with the 27-year-old target man, whose contract with Rushden and Diamonds expires this summer.
No deal had been done by the time The Chronicle went to press but Wright said: 'I can confirm we are in talks with Drewe Broughton but it would be inappropriate of me to say anything more until something has actually been signed.
'We've got four or five players who we are talking to at the moment and hopefully next week we could have about three more signed on. We're trying to bring good players here - quality ones who will make us better.'
Despite top scoring for Rush-den lastseason,Broughtoncould not prevent them from dropping into the Conference.
The Hitchin-born forward made it clear to Diamonds boss Paul Hart that he wanted to re-main in the Football League and was even allowed to miss the Nene Park club's final game of the season to ensure he did not pick up any injuries.
Broughton recovered from a fractured leg in pre-season to net 10 goals for Rushden, picking up nine yellow cards and two reds along the way.
He began his career as a trainee at Norwich City and, in a nomadic career, has played for Wigan (loan), Brentford, Peterborough United, Nuneaton (loan), Dagenham (loan), Stevenage (loan), Kidderminster, Southend and Wycombe (loan).
Broughton only found his scoring touch this season after netting from the penalty spot in Rushden's 2-1 victory over the Blues in December.
His goal-scoring record from that point onwards was excellent, although not enough to keep the Diamonds away from the clutches of relegation.
Standing at 6ft 3in, Broughton could be a perfect foil for striker Gregg Blundell, whose game is better-suited to playing alongside a tall strike partner.
* Blues fans will discover next week when they will be reunited with three familiar faces. The League Two fixtures for 2006-07 are released on Thursday and supporters will look for their derby dates against Wrexham and Shrewsbury. The Shrews have lured Ben Davies, Stewart Drummond and Chris MacKenzie away from Chester since the end of last season.
