HULL City are weighing up a move for Stoke's Wilson Palacios as Steve Bruce attempts to add valuable Premier League experience to his midfield options.
Palacios is known to Bruce after spells together at Birmingham and Wigan and has reportedly been told by Potters' boss Mark Hughes he is free to leave.
Two years remain on the 28-year-old's contract but Stoke will take little persuasion to cut their losses on a player that cost £6m from Spurs in 2011. Bruce is aware of Palacios' situation and is thought to be considering a second approach after failing in a loan bid nine months ago.
A reluctance to drop down into the Championship ensured that proposed deal never got off the ground, but City's promotion could now offer an inviting escape route.
As well as the chance to team up with Honduran compatriot Maynor Figueroa, signed on a free transfer from Wigan this summer, Palacios would also be drawn by the chance to work with Bruce again.
It was during a spell with the City boss at Wigan that Palacios' career took off, winning him a £12m move to Tottenham in 2009.
Although he made 86 appearances for Spurs, a move to Stoke has seen his progress badly stall and last season saw him play just four games.
Bruce is keen to sign a new defensively-minded midfielder to compete with Corry Evans and David Meyler, but will not be chasing Sunderland's Lee Cattermole.
The Black Cats man has been touted for a move to the KC after seemingly falling down the pecking order under Paolo Di Canio. Those reports are wide of the mark, however.
Tom Huddlestone, another midfielder linked last week, is liked by Bruce but the £6m committed to buy Ahmed Elmohamady, Curtis Davies and Allan McGregor, and around £4m to sign either Charlie Austin or Gary Hooper, would leave a £4m price-tag beyond City's reach.
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