Daily transfer rumours from the press as Hull City prepare for life in the Premier League.
The rumour mill has come back around to Darren Bent this morning, with The Sun, The Star and The Mirror all convinced Steve Bruce is ready to hijack Newscastle's bid for the Aston Villa striker.
As we report today, the Tigers have placed Burnley hitman Charlie Austin and Celtic's Gary Hooper at the top of their summer wishlist.
But Bruce has previous with Bent, having signed him for Sunderland in 2009.
The Sun quotes "a source" as saying City are ready to meet Villa's £6m asking price.
But after City's very public statements about NOT overspending this summer, it has to be asked whether the club really is prepared to pay wages of £70,000 a week for the 29-year-old former England man.
Bent is hardly the most popular of figures in East Yorkshire after he dismissed the club in Twitter back in 2009 as he negotiated a move from Tottenham to the Black Cats.
He said at the time: "Do I wanna go Hull City? N0".
There's fresh interest in Sunderland's outcast right back Phil Bardsley according to the Daily Mirror and Daily Mail.
The Mirror says Bruce is interested in a bargain deal for the Scotland defender, whose days with the Black Cats are numbered following a clash with new boss Paolo di Canio.
Bardsley was dropped after being pictured on a casino floor covered in £50 notes.
Meanwhile, the paper buzz is growing around a possible Bruce move for Manchester City's giant goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon. As reported yesterday, the Romanian - frustrated by a lack of opportunities at the Etihad - has been linked with a move to the KC, but could cost up to £5m.
However, the smart money remains on City completing the signing of former Rangers stopper Allan McGregor from Turkish side Besiktas.
Last week, we reported Turkish sources linking City to Swedish striker Johan Elmander. Today, the Fanatik newspaper says the Tigers are set to open talks with his club Galatasaray.
And finally, today's crazy Twitter talk: Forget Darren Bent, how about Carlton Cole - newly released by West Ham? Hit rate was 47 goals in 206 appearances for the Hammers.
• Hull City sign Maynor Figueroa from Wigan on two-year deal
June 17 Hull City's goalkeeping options remain open according to reports. Despite talks with Allan McGregor, the Mail on Sunday claims Steve Bruce has £4million to secure the transfer of Manchester City keeper Costel Pantilimon. The Romanian keeper, unable to get first team football as understudy to Joe Hart, has previously been linked with city. But the MoS claims the failure to get Kasper Schmeichel from Leicester and high wage demands from Shay Given mean Pantilimon is now a favoured choice for City. Meanwhile in Scotland, reports say Hull City's £4million bid for Celtic's Gary Hooper has been gazumped by Reading who have tabled a £5million bid. The Daily Record claims Reading boss Nigel Adkins is desperate to be reunited with Hooper who played for him at Scunthorpe before his move to Celtic three years ago. City are in a four way fight to secure the signing of former Burnley skipper Chris McCann according to the Nottingham Evening Post. The midfielder, on City's radar since the end of the season, is now being chased by Leicester, Wigan and Nottingham Forest according to the paper. Meanwhile crazy twitter talk continues and today it's a return to transfer rumours for Wigan midfield maestro Shaun Maloney who according to tweeters is being pursued - again - by Hull City.