Daily transfer rumours from the press as Hull City prepare for life in the Premier League.
Hull City will pay £2.2m for FC Twente midfielder Willem Janssen– on the recommendation of Steve McClaren, according the The Mirror.
Picking up on the rumours in the Dutch press that were discussed here yesterday, the report says former Twente boss McClaren has told Bruce that the 27-year-old is suited to English football and would be a huge asset in the Premier League.
Janssen, an energetic midfielder known for making strong runs, would bring Europa League experience to the KC.
Hilariously, the Mirror has also unearthed a video that shows Janssen might not be the answer to City's goal-scoring conundrum ...
The other new name in the frame is Martin Braithwaite.
The Danish international, who plays for Esbjerg, "is making a real name for himself in his homeland", according to Sky Sports.
City are said to be tracking the progress of the 22-year-old - who can play up-front or on the wing - along with Celtic and Ipswich.
A "source close to the player" told Sky: "He knows of the interest in England and Scotland, and he is excited by that - but he is trying to stay focused and not get distracted."Crazy Twitter talk: The Twitterati are a little too preoccupied for transfer rumours this morning, so here's an alternative question: "What's the daftest name for a football club?"Ben Vulliamy has come up with our favourite so far. He tweets: "Hull City Chip Spice FC works for me or Hull City Birdseye Peas FC". August 8
The Dutch media says Hull City are interested in Willem Janssen of FC Twente.
Janssen, 27, has been a key part of the Dutch side's central midfield over the past two seasons.
Known for his energetic runs, the former Netherlands under-21 international has played 62 times for Twente and scored eight times.
His contract runs for another two years, meaning City might face paying a fee if they pursue a move.
Steve Bruce has spoken to former Twente boss Steve McClaren about Janssen, according to Voetbal International.
Bruce is stepping up his interest in the European market after losing Stephen Quinn to injury and allowing Blackburn to take Corry Evans and Tom Cairney - who scored and was sent off for Rovers last night.
Meanwhile, Sunderland have joined the race for Robert Acquafresca, according to the Italian media.
The Bologna centre-forward has been linked with a loan move to City.
Acquafresca, who turns 26 next month, has been told he is not part of Bologna coach Stefano Pioli's plans.
Sunderland boss Paulo Di Canio is "desperate" to hold on to midfielder Jack Colback, according to the north-east's Journal.
Colback, who has yet to sign a new contract but is considering a new offer, is expected to start the new season as a full-back after impressing in the role in pre-season.
Don't expect the links with Black Cats stars to end there. Di Canio has apparently told Lee Cattermole, David Vaughan and Phil Bardsley they are free to leave.
Sunderland have invested in eight new players this summer and are now looking to recoup some cash.Crazy Twitter talk: A few fans are talking about Shaun Maloney from Wigan this morning - although Bruce seems to have turned away from the English market. Another interesting name to crop up is Pascal Chimbonda, who is now playing for nothing at non-League Market Drayton after starting a second season without a professional contract, whose career has nose-dived since leaving Tottenham. There's a great BBC article here that traces his journey from World Cup final to non-league football.August 7
Steve Bruce has told us he is not planning to bring former Wigan servant Paul Scharner to Hull City.
German sources claimed yesterday that the Hamburg midfielder's representatives were in talks with the Tigers and a meeting would be held ahead of yesterday's match with Eintract Braunschweig.
But Bruce dismissed the links.
He said: "That's one I can say no to. Obviously there's a link there but no."
His comments throw scorn on a report in this morning's Mirror and Daily Mail which claim City were ready to pay £1.3m for the veteran Austrian utility man - last seen starring for Wigan in the FA Cup final.
Hamburg supposedly want rid of the 33-year-old and The Mail says a two-year KC deal was on the table.
Scharner, for his part, seems determined to stay in Germany. He is quoted as saying: "If Hamburg want to have a war with me, they can have one."The Mirror, meanwhile, says City will pay £1.5m to take Marseille's France international Morgan Amalfitano on a season-long loan, "while Ivory Coast international Eric Tie Bi is expected to be bought from Evian for £1.6m".
Hmm, ... we wonder if Bruce might be cooling on Tie Bi after the Ivorian triallist's foul-littered performance against Braunschweig last night?
The Squawka website adds some interesting stats to the debate. It says in Ligue One last season Tie Bi won 30 of 32 tackles - but committed 47 fouls.
It says: "He loves going to ground to win the ball, preferring the aggressive approach rather than staying on his feet and making interceptions. A tackle success rate of 94 per cent goes a long way in justifying his preference."
Meanwhile, well-regarded Egyptian football website King Fut reports this morning that Mahmoud Kahraba - the 19-year-old striker nicknamed 'Electricity' - will not be joining Hull City for a trial after all.
That's because the ENPPI and Egypt under-20 star is on his way to FC Luzern for a medical over a proposed season-long loan deal.
FC Luzern Sports Director Alexander Frei told a Swiss radio station: "Everything has been firmly nailed. We have an agreement with the club and with the player."
The other name ground out by the rumour mill this morning is Robert Acquafresca.
It's not the first time City have been linked with the 25-year-old striker. Last month, Milanese sports writer Tancredi Palmeri, of CNN and Gazetta Dello Sport, said the Tigers had made contact with Bologna over a possible deal.
Acquafresca - also linked earlier in the summer with a loan move to Sunderland - has failed to make an impact in Serie A and has only just returned to Bologna after a six-month loan spell with Levante of Spain.
Serie A new boys Livorno are said to be interested in taking him on loan, but according to Italian sources Bologna would prefer to sell.Crazy Twitter talk:Jose Baxter from Oldham Athletic? The same "source" that revealed Matty Fryatt is supposedly on his way to Bradford, now says City, Burnley and Bolton have all put in bids for the 21-year-old attacking midfielder. Believe of that what you will.
