Our daily blog of transfer rumours from the press as Hull City prepare for life in the Premier League.
Hull City have joined Sunderland in the race for Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone, according to the Sunderland Echo.
The Black Cats have held talks over Huddlestone and are willing to meet Tottenham's valuation, believed to be between £4m and £5m
But Steve Bruce has also enquired about the former England international, who is keen on a move that will guarantee first-team football, according to the Echo.
Huddlestone, 26, missed much of the 2011-12 season through injury but made 29 appearances last term.
The talented ball-player would undoubtedly be a fine addition to Bruce's squad and new City signing Curtis Davies has already backed a move.
Davies tweeted: "I'd love to have [him] with us, not only as a friend but he's a #Baller. Won't see many better passers of a ball."
The Charlie Austin stand-off between Hull City and Burnley continues, according to today's Lancashire Telegraph.
Clarets chief executive Lee Hoos has confirmed City have yet to meet their valuation of Austin.
City have yet to give up on Austin - who has just a year remaining on his contract - putting some pressure on Burnley to take the money while they can.
However, Hoos seems unwilling to throw in the towel just yet.
He said: "Unless someone puts a bid in that meets our valuation, he has a year left here."
Meanwhile, Celtic boss Neil Lennon is hoping he can persuade Tigers target Gary Hooper to stay at Parkhead.
City have had a bid of around £4.5 million rejected by the Scottish champions and Lennon said the club's current offer remained "well below" Celtic's valuation of the player.
He told Sky Sports: "We had a bid from Hull City which we rejected.
"Whether they come again, I don't know. As you were.
"No set price. The offer made was well below our valuation of the player.
"We would be very happy for him to stay and if he decides to stay on, contract negotiations may re-open again.
"He will come to Germany on Monday and will be part of our plans for the (Champions League) qualifiers."
Kasper Schmeichel says rumours linking him to a KC Stadium move are "ridiculous".
Bruce has tried to the 26-year-old goalkeeper away from Leicester, but was unable to agree a deal.
"I've never said I wanted to leave Leicester," Schmeichel told Leicester's website.
"You hear speculation of things you're supposed to have said or done, like handing in transfer requests and it's just ridiculous.
Schmeichel - who expressed similar sentiments on Twitter last week - added: "There has never been a thought in my mind that I wouldn't be coming back to Leicester."
"I've said many times before that I enjoy playing for this football club, I enjoy coming to work every day and I want to be successful here."
African sources claim City will put in a £5m bid today for Gent's Belgian striker Ilombe Mboyo.Ahmed Elmohamady's permanent move to the KC is expected to be confirmed within the next 24 hours.Crazy Twitter talk: Another day, another goalkeeper linked with the Tigers. Today, Nottingham Forest's Karl Darlow. The 22-year-old is one of the Championship's brighter prospects and would be one for the future after making 20 appearances for Forest last season and nine on loan at Walsall.June 27
Whilst things are speeding up down at the KC Stadium with James Chester signing his new three-year deal yesterday and Liam Rosenior and Ahmed Elmohamady expected to follow suit in the coming days, the bid to bring in Celtic's Gary Hooper looks set to rumble on.
Despite it being our understanding that both the player and club are willing to do a deal with the Tigers, Hoops boss Neil Lennon says City's current offer remains 'way below' the club's valuation, and he has made it clear he is desperate for Hooper to stay.
One deal City are certainly closer on is that for Scotland keeper Allan McGregor
, with the Daily Mirror saying he has agreed to take a pay cut to leave Besiktas to move to the KC Stadium.
City's owners have long stated their intention to ensure they don't pay over the odds, but, according to the Mirror, McGregor will still take a wage of £25,000 a week at the KC.
If you want to follow the forums and Twitter talk, then you'd be led to belive today that City have made a £6m to sign Gent hotshot Ilombe Mboyo in a bid to beat Swansea to his signature.
Various reports suggest Steve Bruce has turned to the Belgian, having been knocked back by former West Ham striker Carlton Cole.
Sources close to the Tigers have told the Mail however that City are reluctant to bring in the striker given he served a prison sentence for his part in a gang rape when aged 16.June 26
The Daily Mail picks up on our Gary Hooper report: "Hull are making a renewed £5m bid for Celtic striker," it reports today.
The move comes after Wigan striker Arouna Kone - a target for Bruce - made clear his desire to join former boss Roberto Martinez at Everton, according to the Mail.
Scotland's Herald says Celtic will reluctantly let Hooper go if City put up £5m - after rejecting a lesser bid of around £4m earlier this month. Nottingham Forest and Reading have also enquired about the 31-goal striker - but he wants Premier League football.
Celtic legend Murdo MacLeod is among pundits convinced Hooper - who has a year left on his contract - will leave Parkhead this summer, but teammate Joe Ledley has urged the striker to stay.
If Bruce fails to land either or both of Hooper and Burnley's Charlie Austin, might he still consider a move for Peter Odemwingie?
West Bromwich Albion remain keen on selling their outcast striker - but admit they have received no bids so far - and the Tigers would surely only consider him as a last resort, with the likes of free agent Carlton Cole looking a much better shout.Crazy Twitter talk: Leeds United's teen prospect Sam Byram has been linked with Manchester City, Arsenal and now Hull City - if today's more outlandish rumours are to be believed. The England under-20s right-back is undoubtedly a good prospect in defence or midfield, but he has a contract at Elland Road until 2016 and may prefer to continue his development with regular first-team football.• Doncaster have named ex-City manager Brian Horton as Paul Dickov's new assistant.June 25
Today's Sun says Steve Bruce is leading the chase for £7.5m Nordin Amrabat.
As reported yesterday, the Turkish press has been talking up a possible loan move for the Galatasaray winger, 26.
The talented Moroccan international - a product of the Dutch youth system - has moved to distance himself from the speculation, however.
His "representative", Erkan Alkan, told Turkish paper Radyospor: "Amrabat has not agreed terms with Hull City. Amrabat is happy at Galatasasray and wants to continue playing at the club."
That statement appear to contradict Amrabat's agent, who told Sky Sports yesterday of Premier League interest in his client.
The Sun claims West Brom and Fulham are also in the hunt.
Speculation continues today over the future of Millwall goalkeeper David Forde, after the Lions signed former West Ham stopper Stephen Bywater on a two-year deal.
Millwall boss Steve Lomas is keen to tie Forde to a long-term deal, but City and Ipswich have both been linked with a move for the the Irish international.
Meanwhile, Burnley are being linked with a move for veteran striker Kevin Davies as boss Sean Dyche waits on the future of his star striker Charlie Austin. City remain willing to spend around £4m to bring Austin to the KC Stadium, but are not prepared to match the Clarets' asking price - thought to be around £5m.Crazy Twitter talk: City will steal Blackpool defender Alex Baptiste from under the noses of Bolton and Crystal Palace, according to @Transfer24_7 ... who must believe Bruce is planning to line up 8-1-1 next season. • There's more on Hull City transfer news today in our lead story, with a move BACK ON for Celtic's Gary Hooper, plus news on deals for Curtis Davies, Ahmed Elmohamady, Allan McGregor and Ilombe Mboyo.
