STEVE Bruce may have missed out on top attacking target Charlie Austin but the Hull City boss insists he remains content with his summer business at the KC Stadium.
As well as turning loan moves for George Boyd and Ahmed Elmohamady into permanent deals following promotion out of the Championship, Bruce has further strengthened his ranks with the addition of three seasoned veterans.
A £1.8m deal for Allan McGregor has offered a long-term solution to the Tigers' goalkeeping problems, while a £2.25m deal with Birmingham to land Curtis Davies has injected further competition into the heart of City's defence.
Maynor Figueroa, signed from Wigan on a free transfer, completed the trio of new faces as City returned to full training this week and Bruce believes the Honduran typifies an astute summer to date.
"He's a very good player," said Bruce on Figueroa. "We're delighted to snap him up for nothing, it's a great piece of business.
"I brought him over and it's been like a rags to riches story. I didn't play him for the first year but I can remember putting him in on the last game of the season against Man United and he was sensational.
"He's shown that he's a top class centre-back or left-back. He's somebody who's naturally left-footed in defence which we didn't really have to give us that balance once we lost Joe Dudgeon to injury."
Accomplished as both a left-sided centre-back and left wing-back during his time with Wigan, Figueroa's arrival will provide Bruce with the chance to persist with a 3-5-2 system, one that inspired promotion last season.
Davies, a former top-flight centre-back with West Brom and Aston Villa, also points towards a wing-back shape being adopted at Chelsea on the opening weekend.
"Curtis has just been Birmingham's Player of the Year and he's a very good defender," added Bruce.
"People can question why we're signing defenders, but the way we play means that we need to have options. In my mind I'm thinking of playing the same way again and he's someone I like a lot. He's big, physical and he's quick."
Behind Bruce's chosen rearguard at Stamford Bridge on August 17 will almost certainly be McGregor.
The 31-year-old, signed from Turkish side Besiktas, has been recruited as City's new number one and Bruce admits the deal has been 12 months in the making.
"He was just what we're looking for," he added. "A bit of experience after playing 10 years at Rangers and a year in Turkey. It didn't quite work out for him there but he's someone we've always kept an eye on. I tried for him last year before he went to Turkey but it didn't come off so we're delighted he's here now."
City are in the market to strengthen midfield with a move for Stoke's Wilson Palacios, while Marseille's Frenchman Morgan Amalfitano has also been offered to City on a 12-month loan.
• Have you seen our new homepage? Bookmark hulldailymail.co.uk for the very best and exclusive local content.
• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
