Daily transfer rumours from the press as Hull City prepare for life in the Premier League.Jack Colback from Sunderland, Alou Diarra from West Ham or Stephane Mbia from QPR?
Those were the names being floated around the papers over the weekend as the rumour mill ground out the options for strengthening Hull City's midfield.
But Steve Bruce looks increasingly likely to look beyond England, according to our own Phil Buckingham, who is with the Tigers on their Germany tour.
After Bruce slammed the "lack of value" in the English transfer market, he dropped his biggest hint yet that he will bring in midfielders from Europe.
"The value for money in England isn't there," he tells today's Mail. "I'd love to find a 23-year-old Englishman for the right price, but where are they?
"I look at Sagbo and ask where could I get someone like him for that money in England? You can't."
We understand Bruce will look to push forward this week with a loan deal for Marseille's Morgan Amalfitano, a creative midfielder with Champions League experience.
Meanwhile, Evian triallist Eric Tie Bi will play again in the friendly with German side Eintract Braunschwieg on Tuesday, after he impressed Bruce in a defensive midfield role against Dynamo Dresden on Saturday.
There's been talk in the papers of Evian wanting £1m for Tie Bie, although Bruce would only say "there would still be a bit to do".
"I don't think (Evian) will just let him go," he added. "We haven't explored that just yet."
If there is one English midfielder Bruce would no doubt love to have at the KC, it is Sunderland's Jack Colback.The Northern Echo claims this morning City will table a formal bid for the talented 23-year-old, who established himself in the Premier League under Bruce's management.
Colback is in the final year of his contract and has rejected all offers of a new deal. However, a deal looks difficult, partly because Paulo Di Canio seems determined to hang on to him and partly because a fee in the region of £5m appears a stretch for City.
This morning's Journal, which covers Sunderland, says Di Canio will instead try to persuade the midfielder he has a future at the Stadium of Light as a full-back.
Colback's importance to Sunderland would decrease if they were able to sign a natural left-back, but their ongoing search in that area is no closer to being resolved, according to the Echo.
Di Canio remains willing to sell Lee Cattermole but Bruce would prefer to look elsewhere.
Meanwhile, a deal for Stoke City midfielder Wilson Palacios looks further away than ever today after he played another 45 minutes in a friendly at Wrexham.
Now, the Stoke Sentinel says Palacios could be in line for a shock start on opening day at Liverpool.
Potters boss Mark Hughes said: "He's had a difficult time for whatever reason, but he's an accomplished player who understands the game. He's certainly in my thoughts," explained Hughes.
"A lot of guys are putting their hands up for the first game, but there's a lot of things I need to see and work to be done over the last fortnight of pre-season."
The other big news this morning is the KC trial for young Egyptian forward Mahmoud Kahraba.
We talked about under-20 international Kahraba last week and now Bruce has confirmed he could well be "one for the future".
Kahraba was said to be close to a move to Swiss side FC Luzern, before City's interest became known, according to Egyptian football website KingFut.
The 19-year-old, who plays for the ENPPI club, was an influential player for Egypt in the 2013 African Youth Championship in Algeria and the U-20 World Cup in Turkey.
Described by Egyptian sources as an attacking midfielder, he apparently won his nickname "Electricity" because the energy he brings to the pitch rubs off on his team-mates.Crazy Twitter talk: Fans were left perplexed after Sky Sports reported Hull City had signed Arsenal goalkeeper and one-time Tiger Vito Mannone. "Think they'll find it's Sunderland", tweeted James Pitt.August 4
SO have Hull City finally found reason to end their striker search with Yannick Sagbo finding the net on his debut in Germany yesterday?
It was certainly a positive start for the £1.6m star, and with the departures of Corry Evans and Tom Cairney to Blackburn last week, the focus now certainly looks to be in midfield.
With manager Steve Bruce admitting a move for Stoke's Wilson Palacios, a deal he has chased all summer, appears to be 'drifting further away', there are suggestions he may now turn to former club Sunderland to strengthen.
The name being touted is that of Jack Colback, as he has refused to sign a new deal at the Stadium of Light, with a fee of around £4.5m thought to be on him.
With Bruce admitting last week's transfer business had been aimed at adding cash to his kitty, perhaps this is why?
He surely still has some cash to spend on transfers, given he was operating on a budget of around £10m at the start of the sunner.
Colback, 23, has one year left on his existing deal with the Black Cats, and that could help City when it comes to negotiating on price.
Of course, Bruce hinted that he would like three new midfield players in place before lining up to face Chelsea on the opening day, and that means he will be keeping a close eye on trialist Eric Tie Bi in the coming days, following his short cameo appearance in Germany on Saturday night.
The Evian midfielder, also 23, is due for a longer run-out in Tuesday night's final friendly in Germany, as Bruce ponders a possible move.
The third possible addition? Well, that is increasingly looking like Marseille's creative midfielder Morgan Amalfitano, a player Bruce believes could be the man to add that extra quality needed in the middle.
It is our understanding that Bruce will look to push that deal on this week, and that is the one furthest down to the line to a possible completion at present.August 3
Hull City could raid French side Evian for another of their French-Ivorian stars, following the signing of Yannick Sagbo.
Striker Sagbo is expected to be joined by former team-mate Eric Tié Bi for a short trial during City's trip in Germany.
The 23-year-old midfielder will not be considered to play any part in today's game against Dynamo Dresden, with Steve Bruce content to pass judgement in training for now.
Tié Bi, who plays as a defensive midfielder, joined Evian from Lyon in 2010 and made 24 appearances last season.
However, despite claims by TalkSport that a deal is imminent, our own Phil Buckinham, who is with City in Germany, thinks the trial is only "speculative" at present and the search for new signings will go on around him.
Bruce tells today's Mail he is looking to bring up to three midfielders after the departure this week of Corry Evans and Tom Cairney to Blackburn Rovers.
But while he retains some hope of signing Wilson Palacios from Stoke City - despite Mark Hughes's apparent reluctance to sell - there is no substance at present to rumours he will move for Jermaine Jenas, Scott Parker and Jake Livermore.
Jenas is set to play for QPR against Sheffield Wednesday as the Championship season kicks off today and claims City triggered a release clause in his contract appear to be wide of the mark.
Instead, Bruce is likely to look to the European market, with Marseille's creative midfielder Morgan Amalfitano a possible option on a season-long loan.
Amalfitano can play across the midfield and has plenty of pedigree, having picked up Champions League experience with Marseille along with a single cap for the French national side. However, he has been in and out of the first team and could welcome a chance to develop in the Premier League.
The departure of Evans for a fee of £600,000, which could rise to £800,000 based on appearances, represents a small profit on the £500,000 fee City paid Manchester United two years ago, and gives Bruce room for manoeuvre on his wage bill.
"It puts a bit more in our kitty," said Bruce.The one that got away? ... Fans in Dresden may be looking forward to seeing Sagbo in action for the first time today, but one striker who has certainly hit the ground running is former City target Gary Hooper who netted twice for new team Norwich when they faced Braga last night.Crazy Twitter talk: Is letting Blackburn take Cairney and Evans a sweetener for Jordan Rhodes? Honestly? ... almost certainly not.
