SUSSEX want to give young Kent all-rounder Will House a new home at Hove.

They are keen to capture the left-handed middle order batsman and occasional right-arm medium pace bowler.

Dave Gilbert, Sussex's general manager, revealed: "We have notified Kent that we want to talk to him.

"We sent them a letter on the 22nd of October, but under the regulations we have got to wait until November 1 before we can start negotiations.

"He played against our Second team and Keith Greenfield (coach) felt he was the best opponent the Seconds came across last season.

"He opened the batting for Kent in the National League, but he has only played one Championship game for them in the last two seasons, so he has been horribly blocked in terms of Championship cricket.

"He was with Robin Martin-Jenkins and Umer Rashid at Cambridge University and we have done our homework on him.

"He has a very good attitude and is an in-your-face sort of cricketer. We have to keep looking for players who can make their presence felt."

House, 23, a Cambridge University double blue, is out of contract at Kent and is understood to be frustrated by his lack of opportunities.

He was voted Kent's most improved player and the University's player of the year in 1996, when he scored a hundred on his First Class debut playing for Cambridge against a Derbyshire side which included Sussex skipper Chris Adams.

He made 11 National League appearances for Kent last season as a pinch-hitter, but has only played four First Class matches for the county.

Sussex lost out to Kent last month in a battle to sign Leicestershire wicket-keeper Paul Nixon.

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