Our daily blog of transfer rumours from the press as Hull City prepare for life in the Premier League.
As Hull City close on Danny Graham, who is now discussing personal terms with the club, some interesting stats have emerged about how the Sunderland striker compares against two other targets City have been linked with.
The football stats compiler EPL Index compared Graham, West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie and "wildcard" Yannick Sagbo of French Ligue 1 outfit Evian.
Sagbo's stats are six goals last season, five from inside the box. He's described as quick-paced and comfortable on one-on-ones. He also chipped in with five assists. Most of his goals in the last two seasons have also come in the first half. The 25-year-old is said to be available for £3.5m.
Odemwingie, who has just turned 32, is described as the "safe and experienced option". He is equally comfortable on either foot and described as a natural poacher with a clear-cut conversion rate of up to 75 per cent over the last three seasons.
Meanwhile, Graham, 28 next month, is described as having similar attributes to Odemwingie but with a slightly poorer conversion rate and slower goal or assist rate (203 minutes to the Nigerian's 190 minutes). Graham scored three goals in 31 appearances last season while Odemwingie managed five in 25.
So they reckon all three have good potential, despite far from glittering shows lasts season. Graham would be "a solid signing", Sagbo a "tactical" choice because of his early goals and Odemwingie as "best value" and the report's best tip.
You can read the report here.
Bruce would face competition if he decided to take an interest in Odemwingie, as Fulham are said by the Daily Express to be nearing a deal.
Hull City shouldn't need a stats calculator to work out if South African Daylon Claasen is worth signing - if he continues to impress on his extended trial with the Tigers.
The 23-year-old midfielder is still in search of a new club after terminating his contract with the Belgian side Lierse SK and has caught Bruce's attention at their pre-season camp in Portugal.
But South African media reports that it is not known whether Claasen will be able to meet the minimum requirements to earn a working visa to play in England. Usually, players must have made 75 per cent of international appearances, if they are available, over the previous two years.
If he doesn't sign for City, we're sure Harry Redknapp will have a look at him as he seems to be following every step Steve Bruce makes. It seems 'Arry is about to snap up two of Bruce's previous targets and will team Charlie Austin - available for a cut-price £1.75m plus extras - with Celtic's Gary Hooper who will cost £5.5m. One interesting note: The Mirror suggests Hooper is expecting £40,000 a week, perhaps an indication of why Bruce bailed out of a deal.
At least one of City's stay-at-home players is likely to make a move fairly quickly, according to the Daily Star. It says Aaron McLean is being pursued by Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton and Millwall. McLean was left out of the Portugal trip along with winger Cameron Stewart with both being advised to find new clubs.
Looks like any interest City had in Liverpool's former Barcelona youth player Dani Pacheco, will be short-lived. The Daily Mail reports the forward will be going to Celta Vigo after spending six years at Anfield without breaking into the first-team. "He's done more loans than Wonga," says one Liverpool joker.Crazy Twitter talk? How about Kenwyne Jones - a record £8m signing for Stoke and a favourite of ex-manager Tony Pulis but dropped at the end of the season after a dressing room bust-up with a team-mate, and linked with a move as soon as Mark Hughes became the new boss?July 17Danny Graham's move to Hull City is set to be confirmed after the striker returned from Sunderland's pre-season tour of Italy - according to Sky Sports sources.
The £5m-rated frontman is expected to join City on a season-long loan deal and may link up with the Tigers at their training camp in Portugal.Steve Bruce has admitted his interest in signing Graham, who has failed to score in 13 appearances since moving from Swansea to the Stadium of Light.
Bruce told the Mail: "(Graham) is someone where there's been a bit of interest.
"He hasn't had the best of times in the north-east but he's a very, very good player. Whether it's possible, who knows? It's something that we're looking at."
Sky Sports has pictured Graham arriving at the KC Stadium today.The Sun has more on those links with Yannick Sagbo. It says the Evian striker will cost just £750,000 and is keen on a move to England - but City will face competition from Crystal Palace for his services.TalkSport adds another name from the French league - Lyon striker Jimmy Briand. The 27-year-old has won five caps and is in the final year of his contract.
And City are also being linked with Liverpool's former Barcelona youth player Dani Pacheco, according to the Spanish media. Malaga and Celta Vigo are also said to be interested in the young Spanish forward, 22, who has spent six years at Anfield without breaking into the first team, and has missed out on the squad's pre-season tour starting in Indonesia.
City MD Nick Thompson has admitted the Tigers appear to have been priced out of a move for Celtic's Gary Hooper after a failed bid earlier this summer.
He says: "We've reached a position with Celtic, Gary and his agent whereby it was not something we want to pursue.
"It's important to get the right wage levels for the club."
Hooper now looks set to move to QPR or Norwich - with West Ham also showing interest, according to today's Mirror.
Speaking on Radio Humberside, Thompson said City had been approached over Jermaine Jenas but his wage demands were "outside" what they were willing to pay.
The club faces a similar issue over wages for Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner but Thompson did not rule out a move.
Bruce remains keen on Wilson Palacios but there has been no approach for QPR's Adel Taarabt.
Thompson, meanwhile, has moved to dampen speculation about Hull City being rebranded as Hull City Tigers.
If you haven't seen our exclusive today about South African trialist Daylon Claasen, you can read it here. Midfielder Claasen, 23, was the mystery man who turned out for City against Winterton on Monday evening, when, playing as "James Armstrong", he scored one and set up another. The Tigers are giving him an extended trial.Jack Hobbs' move to Nottingham Forest has been confirmed, to the delight of Reds boss Billy Davies, who describes him here as one of the brightest prospects outside the Premier League.
A City loan move for Adel Taarabt looks unlikely. Harry Redknapp has told Sky Sports: "There's talk about (Taarabt) going to Hull on loan. What's the good in that? If he wants to go, let somebody come and pay money for him."
Elsewhere, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew hopes to tie-up a deal for Aston Villa's Darren Bent by the weekend, says the Daily Mail.Crazy Twitter talk: Remember Kamil Zayatte? Of course you do. The Guinean international made more than 50 appearances for the Tigers between 2009 and 2011. Now, he is apparently on trial with Sheffield Wednesday in Portugal - which means he could face City in a friendly on Saturday! Updates to follow.July 16
Hull City have stepped up their striker search with Sunderland's Danny Graham now at the top of Steve Bruce's wishlist.
As we report this morning, the Tigers are hopeful of agreeing a season-long loan deal for the former Swansea City man.
Today's Chronicle suggests the Black Cats would prefer to strike a permanent deal with City but are willing to let the 27-year-old leave on loan for now.
Gateshead-born Graham - Martin O'Neill's final signing - has struggled to established himself at the Stadium of Light since has £5m move from Wales in January and has failed to score in 13 appearances.
Bruce, meanwhile, fears Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner may be out of reach because - as we discussed here yesterday - City are unlikely to be able to guarantee his high wages. Still, a move has not been ruled out.
A third name doing the rounds is Evian's Yannick Sagbo. The pacy 25-year-old can play across the front line and would cost around £3.5m, according to the Daily Mail.
Sagbo was born in France but represents Ivory Coast. He boasts a scoring record of around one goal in every four games in the French top flight and has raised interest from West Ham and Tottenham in recent seasons.
Yesterday, we wondered if QPR "bad boy" Adel Taarabt might turn Bruce's head after his falling out with Harry Redknapp. Today, The Sun says the Tigers boss is read to take a gamble on the Moroccan playmaker.
The 24-year-old - disciplined after turning up late for Rangers training - "can supply some magic" for City, according to the Currant Bun, and could be available on a season-long loan deal. However, he is also attracting interest from the United Arab Emirates.Jack Hobbs looks set to leave the KC for Nottingham Forest, but may well sign on a season-long loan deal, according to the Nottingham Post. As our own Phil Buckingham reports this morning, Hobbs will not travel to Portugal with the Tigers, and a deal could be confirmed within the next 24 hours barring late problems.
Elswhere, Sunderland have dropped their interest in Tom Huddlestone after failing to agree a £5m fee with Tottenham, according to the Daily Mail, while QPR have upped their bid for Celtic's Gary Hooper to £5.5m after signing Richard Dunne on a one-year deal. All three players were linked with moves to City.Crazy Twitter talk: Those Jermaine Jenas rumours keep gathering momentum with multiple "sources" continuing to claim City have offered QPR £1.5m for the former England midfielder. The speculation dates back to a Daily Star article at the weekend which suggested the Tigers could turn to Jenas if they failed to land Wilson Palacios.
