The Tigers are set to return to Birmingham with an improved offer for Curtis Davies, after seeing an initial offer rejected.
A bid from the Tigers, believed to have matched that made by Norwich in January at £2m, was knocked back, but the Mail understands City will return to the table.
Born in London, 28-year-old Davies began his youth career with Wimbledon. He joined the club as a trainee at the age of 15, but was released a year later.
In 2001 he accepted a scholarship from Luton Town, and made his first-team debut in 2003.
He was named both Luton Town's Young Player of the Year and Football League One Player of the Year of the 2004-05 season, and was selected alongside five Luton teammates in the PFA League One Team of the Year.
In September 2005 he became a record signing for West Brom, penning a £3million four-year deal. He was the third-biggest domestic move on deadline day.
West Brom boss Bryan Robson said of the 6ft 2in player: "I believe he's got a really good future in the game.
"Curtis is one of the most outstanding young centre halves I've seen for some time".
Davies made a total of 62 appearances for Luton, scoring two goals.
In July 2006 he pledged his future to West Brom by signing a four-year contract extension. "We felt after the way he performed last season he deserved the reward of a new contract," Bryan Robson said.
Davies, 20, was also appointed captain on a permanent basis, becoming the youngest captain in The Premiership.
Within months Davies had caught the eye of a number of clubs, and was linked with a move. The Baggies chief said he was aware of the interest, but wanted to keep him at The Hawthorns.
And Davies himself told the media he was content at West Brom, and felt speculation was designed to unsettle him.
In March 2007 the defender was ruled out for the rest of the campaign after breaking a metatarsal bone. The injury rendered him unavailable for selection for the England game against Italy at Wembley. He had been named in the England Under-21 squad.
Nevertheless, he was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year for 2006–07.
In June 2007 Davies saw a transfer request rejected, and handed in the West Brom captaincy due to his desire to leave The Hawthorns.
He was, two months later, given permission to speak to Aston Villa. Later that month Davies signed a season-long loan deal with the club, with a view to a permanent move.
In March 2008 that move appeared to be in doubt, after an Achilles injury saw Davies ruled out for several months. But come July, he had transferred to the club for an undisclosed fee, reported to be in the region of £8m.
Recurring shoulder problems in September 2009 saw Davies sidelined until January. He was upon his returned linked with a Celtic loan move in a bid to boost his match fitness, but the possibility was ruled out by Martin O'Neill.
In August 2010 Davies was transfer-listed, and shortly afterwards resigned from the club. He told journalists he believed he wasn't given a fair chance of holding down a regular first-team spot by the Northern Irishman.
Two months later Davies joined Leicester City on a month-long loan deal. The stint was later extended until January.
Davies' next move was to Birmingham City. In January 2011 he completed a transfer to the club for a fee believed to be £3.5million.
He had looked set to rejoin Leicester for a second loan spell, but instead opted for St Andrews and another chance at Premier League football.
Davies soon established himself as a key Birmingham player, and was named in PFA's Championship Team of the Year for 2011–12.
By the following summer Davies was reported to have caught the eye of Norwich, but Birmingham boss Lee Clark insisted they had not received any offers.
Queens Park Rangers were also said to be lining up a move for the player, and in January 2013 reports suggested Norwich City were closing on a deal for Davies.
Davies was in May crowned both Birmingham City's player of the season and the players' player of the season. Manager Lee Clark labelled him a "Premier League player in the Championship", and the club website said "in what was a turbulent 2012/13 season for the club, Davies remained a rock in the centre of defence".
