Goalkeepers are like buses: wait seasons for one to come along and then half a dozen are queuing up at the same time.
The Irish Independent today reports that Hull City are monitoring Ireland goalkeeper David Forde as they weigh up options as the Kasper Schmeichel deal starts to fall apart. We had reported the link yesterday but the Independent goes further, stating Steve Bruce was "hugely impressed by Forde's form" for both Millwall and Ireland last season.
However, our suspicion is a deal to bring Allan McGregor to the KC is almost done. The keeper is on holiday but talks have been on-going and he fits the bill for Bruce. He certainly won't be staying in Turkey and City are his favoured option.
Our Hull City reporter Phil Buckingham understands the Tigers have finally given up on Kasper Schmeichel after one final attempt to bring him to the KC earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph usually knows its figures. It reports today that City would have to raise £8m to persuade Aston Villa to part with Darren Bent. Villa are happy for the striker to leave but want to recoup a chunk of the £18m (!) they paid for Bent back in 2011. On top of wages of around £65,000 a week, that option looks way beyond what City would be happy to pay.
Sorry folks, no crazy twitter talk today as the tweets are too stacked with fixtures! But here's some reassuring news for Steve Bruce as the new season looms. He's listed as a 33/1 shot to lose his job in the new season, a huge vote of confidence from the bookies reflecting his popularity with the owners and fans at City. That places him alongside West Brom's Steve Clarke and Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers.
Compare that to poor Alan Pardew at Newcastle who is 2/1 to leave Newcastle before the season even starts.June 18
The Scottish Express says Hull City strike target Gary Hooper has decided to leave Celtic.
It "understands" Hooper's agent has informed the Glasgow club his client would prefer to be sold before the close of the transfer window.
Hooper believes a return to England would boost his chances of an England call-up - with the prize of a place in the 2014 World Cup squad at stake - according to the Express.
City are set to face competition for his signature from Reading and Southampton.
As reported in the Mail, an initial bid of around £4.5m was rejected last week - with Celtic sticking firm to their £7m valuation.
Meanwhile, Burnley are braced for a new offer from City for Steve Bruce's other top target, Charlie Austin.
The Lancashire Telegraph says the Clarets are determined to hold out for the right fee for Austin, who has a year left on his contract.
Burnley value Austin at £7m, but a new bid from Bruce of around £5m may persuade them to sell.
Steve Bruce's attempts to strengthen his strike force have seen him linked this week with former Sunderland star Darren Bent. Newcastle are favourites to land the Villa man, 29, but today's Mirror suggests the appointment of Magpies director of football Joe Kinnear may see any potential deal reviewed. Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is hoping to bag Bent for £5m.
Birmingham boss Lee Clark has told the Birmingham Mail he expects prized defender Curtis Davies to leave this summer.
Bruce wants Davies to link up with Maynor Figueroa in a new-look Tigers defence and a deal was expected to include Jack Hobbs as collateral. However, with City now looking set to offer Hobbs to Leicester as part-exchange for Kasper Schmeichel, it is unclear whether £4m-rated Davies would still be in reach.
St Etienne's Max Gradel has told Sky Sports he will not be joining Hull City.
The ex-Leeds winger has been linked with the Tigers and Cardiff.
He said: "I love England but at the moment I like it here in France. Hull City and Cardiff are good teams but the Premier League will be tough for them, but they can surprise like Swansea."Update: The Daily Mail is linking City and Crystal Palace to a season-long loan move for Manchester City midfielder Abdisalam Ibrahim.
The Norwegian Under-21 international has been compared to Yaya Toure and Patrick Vieira and has made three first-team appearances for the Blues.June 17
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
