Daily transfer rumours from the press as Hull City prepare for life in the Premier League.Alex Baptiste has joined Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer from Blackpool today.
The versatile defender had been linked with Hull City, although it was always hard to see how he would fit into Steve Bruce's plans.
Elsewhere, today's Mirror recycles the Kevin Davies link mentioned yesterday.
"Bruce wants muscle upfront," claims its football spy.
Staying with strikers, The Sun says Burnley's Charlie Austin - slated as a target for Steve Bruce - is wanted by Aston Villa.
Austin, who has scored 45 goals in 90 games for the Clarets, is keen for a shot at the Premier League but told The Express And Star he would not try to force a move away from Turf Moor.
One striker who is keen to lead the Tigers line in the Premier League is Nick Proschwitz. His agent has told today's HDM he will fight for his place in Bruce's plans.
Speaking of Bruce, bookies have priced the City boss 16-1 to be named the next Stoke City manager following Tony Pulis' departure. We don't imagine there'll be many takers. Mark Hughes, Roberto Di Matteo and Rafa Benitez head the betting.May 21
A new day, a new name linked to Hull City. This time Bolton's Kevin Davies.
The Manchester Evening News reports that Steve Bruce may be interested in the veteran striker who is out of contract in summer but desperately keen to stay in the Premier League.
"Without question, I believe I can still do a job in the Premier League," Davies, 36, told the MEN.
"I'm in good health, in good shape and I'll probably look to play maybe another two or three seasons if I can."
City were linked with ex-Southampton and Blackburn striker Davies back in 2008. He has found the net 74 times in 351 games for Bolton and picked up one England cap.
Meanwhile, today sees more reports linking Jordan Rhodes and Charlie Austin to City. The Daily Mail says Blackburn striker Rhodes and Burnley's Austin are both in Bruce's sights.
The Lancashire Telegraph says Burnley are now making contingency plans for Austin leaving and link Aston Villa, Celtic, Newcastle and Hull with the player.
The Leicester Mercury says Nigel Pearson is interested in Blackpool defender Alex Baptiste, an alleged target for the Tigers.
Derby manager Nigel Clough has confirmed his interest, while Bolton are also said to be keen.
The Mercury says Leicester's bid would struggle with any interest from Premier-bound City.
Finally, they say taxi drivers are the oracles of all football gossip. And there's one who says he had the chief executive of Wigan in the back of his cab who told him the Tigers "have approached Shaun Maloney". Unfortunately Maloney hasn't had to get a taxi recently so nothing to report from the Scotland player yet.
• Bruce to let Mclean and Stewart go - and may consider Cairney and Jakupovic futures
May 20 Hull City are closing in on Blackpool defender Alex Baptiste according to today's Daily Mail. Baptiste, 27, is a free agent, but Bolton and Derby are also interested. The versatile Baptiste can play in central defence or in both full-back positions and made 21 appearances for the Tangerines in the Premier League. Baptiste has been offered a new deal, but chairman Karl Oyston told the Blackpool Gazette his club would not wait forever for him to make up his mind. But with the likes of Paul McShane and Alex Bruce already offering defensive cover, would Baptiste really fit into Bruce's plans?David Stockdale's future is still in the balance, with the Fulham Chronicle claiming he could rival Mark Schwarzer for the number one shirt at Craven Cottage next season. Schwarzer, 40, is out of contract this summer and is seeking assurances he will remain first-choice at Fulham before signing to a new deal. Boss Martin Jol said cryptically: "We don't know what will happen to Stockdale and he does not want to be the number two, as you know he wants to be number one as well, and that is the problem." So, how about the experienced Schwarzer as a wildcard for the Tigers? ... just saying! Meanwhile, The Mirror claims Peter Odemwingie's latest "outburst" against his team-mates will hasten his move from West Bromwich Albion to the KC Stadium. The red-top claims Odemwingie was left out of the 10-goal thriller against Manchester United because he was critical of his fellow players in the 4-0 defeat to Norwich. Albion want £3m for the outcast striker - and, given his chequered record, that would mean Bruce taking quite a gamble. Elsewhere, Kasper Schmeichel's name is doing the rounds again, with The Mirror claiming Swansea City will fight the Tigers for his signature. And The Daily Mail reiterates those claims that Blackburn do not want to sell Jordan Rhodes. Its "Screamer" column claims Rovers' global adviser Shebby Singh will hire Gary Bowyer as manager today.May 19 Blackburn have slapped a £15 million price-tag on striker Jordan Rhodes to deter bids from Hull City and West Brom, according to the Sunday People. The Scotland international, an £8million buy for Blackburn from Huddersfield, bagged 27-goals in 43 appearances for Blackburn last season. The People also reports that Newcastle United right back Danny Simpson could be set for Hull as his contract ends this summer. Simpson is said to be holding out for a move to London to be near his girlfriend, the X-Factor's Tulisa Contostavlos. Meanwhile a player long-linked to the Tigers, Phil Neville is reported by the Star on Sunday as being in talks with Everton about replacing David Moyes as manager. Wigan's Roberto Martinez is favourite to succeed Moyes but Neville is among those closely linked with the job. Elsewhere there are reports at HITC Sport that Manchester United starlets, midfielder Nick Powell and Chilean striker Angelo Henriquez could be loaned to Hull City by Moyes with City manager Steve Bruce still regarded as having as close a relationship as any manager with the Old Trafford set-up.May 18 Today's Mirror has followed up yesterday's social media speculation about a Steve Bruce swoop for three of Wigan's FA Cup winner. It claims former Latic boss Bruce is weighing up moves for Wembley goal hero Ben Watson, versatile defender Emmerson Boyce and attacking midfielder Shaun Maloney. Bruce signed Watson, 27, in 2009 for £2m. Maloney, 30, scored seven times last season and undoubtedly has the class to stay in the Premier League, but with Bruce already able to call on Robert Koren and George Boyd, might his priorities not lie elsewhere? Meanwhile, The Sun claims James Chester is wanted by Newcastle as well as (as widely speculated) Aston Villa. May 17Today: Peter Odemwingie, Shaun Maloney, Ben Watson, Emmerson Boyce, Kasper Schmeichel. STEVE Bruce is ready to offer West Bromwich Albion outcast Peter Odemwingie a fresh start, according to The Telegraph. Odemwingie was the talk of the previous transfer window when he famously turned up at QPR to try to force a January move, only to have to head back to the West Midlands with his tail between his legs. Steve Clarke says suitors will have to pay market value for Nigeria international - anywhere between £3m and £4.5m, depending on which paper you read with your cornflakes. "We're not a charity," he says. The Birmingham Mail adds Crystal Palace are potential competitors for the 31-year-old, who has 13 months remaining on his contract. Odemwingie, who counts Lille and Lokomotiv Moscow among his former clubs, has scored 30 goals in 80 appearances for West Brom. He has won 55 caps for Nigeria. Meanwhile, Leicester City will resist any Tigers move for goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel by offering him a new contract, according to today's Leicester Mercury. As reported in Wednesday's HDM, Schmeichel is one of the keepers under consideration by Bruce, who may be priced out of a move for Fulham's David Stockdale. But any move is unlikely until June. Rumours are also flying about today that Nigel Pearson's reign at the Walker's Stadium may be about to come to an end after he failed to take the Foxes to the Premier League. As predicted in yesterday's transfer talk, the national papers have started speculating about which of Wigan's relegated stars might tempt Bruce this summer. Today, Mirror writer James Nursey has tweeted: "Told Steve Bruce got a keen interest in his former players Ben Watson, Shaun Maloney and Emmerson Boyce at Wigan". He later corrected himself by admitting Maloney was a Roberto Martinez signing and is likely to go to a more established Premier League side. Finally today, former City striker Jozy Altidore is likely to leave AZ Alkmaar this summer, according to today's round of rumours. The US striker didn't really cut the mustard for Hull City in the Premier League but, now older and wiser, he has been brilliant for the Dutch Eredivision side. But any lingering dreams of seeing him back in Hull are unlikely to be realised - the Spanish press is convinced he will be turning out for Real Betis next season.• Hull City transfer rumours: May 8 to May 16
