Daily transfer rumours from the press as Hull City prepare for life in the Premier League.
Hull City boss Steve Bruce has poured scorn on reports he is trying to sign Wolves striker Kevin Doyle.The Mirror and Daily Mail have both claimed the Tigers were closing in on a deal for the Irish international, who would cost between £2m and £3m.
But Bruce told TalkSport this morning he was not interested in signing another striker.
"I don't really know where that has come from. I have been linked with about 150 players and we have taken in four.
"We have brought in Danny Graham and big Yannick Sagbo ... so in that department we are OK at the moment."
Bruce's denial comes after Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni urged Doyle to leave Wolves to save his international career.
The 29-year-old finds himself playing in League One following successive relegations for Wolves.
For their part, Wanderers are keen to sell their prized asset as they try to reduce their wage bill.
When asked if a move before the end of the transfer window would be good for the former £6.5m Reading man, Trapattoni added: "It would be better as he can try and regain confidence.
"Kevin is an intelligent player. I think it is important for him to get another opportunity, whether the money is 20 per cent more or 20 per cent less. It's
important to go to a club to play. It depends on his agent."
Today's statement from Bruce, however, reaffirms his focus is on strengthening in midfield.The Daily Star picks up on our story yesterday about Evian's Mohammed Rabiu and says Real Betis will offer competition for the £2m-rated anchorman. A Russian club - rumoured to be FC Krasnodar - are also said to be interested.
Evian manager Pascal Dupraz reportedly says he "will cry" if the "sensational" midfielder moves to City.
He is quoted as saying: "Mohammed Rabiu is a sensational player, who deos a lot of important things for the club in the midfield. If he goes I will cry.
"But I would also be happy because it will show that he has made great strides."
Meanwhile, German sources claim Hamburg's defensive midfielder Tomas Rincon is "open" to a possible move to City.
The Venezuelan international, 25, is surplus to requirements at Hamburg and has been linked with a switch to the KC.
"I am with Hamburg and I will keep cool on this (link)," he told Hamburger Morgenpost when asked about the Tigers. "For me, it's important to get regular first-team action."
Hamburg coach Thorsten Fink added: "If a club comes in with an offer for him, we will definitely have to consider it."
Last week, Bruce scotched rumours he was interested in Hamburg's Paul Scharner, whom he managed at Wigan.
At 25, Rincon - who boasts 42 caps and has a year left on his contract - looks a much better bet than his teammate. Crazy Twitter talk: Photos of Steve Bruce with Sam Allardyce at a London restaurant have been doing the rounds on Twitter. So, expect plenty of links with various West Ham midfielders. Alou Diarra was linked earlier this month with a move to the KC.August 12
Wolves striker Kevin Doyle will join Hull City - if he agrees to slash his wages by half, according to today's Mirror.
The paper's "Football Spy" claims the Tigers are ready with a £3m bid for Doyle.
He has two years left on his contract, but Wolves are desperate to see the back of his £40,000 salary after successive relegations have left them struggling in League One.
Celtic - who failed in a January loan bid - are among clubs linked with the 29-year-old Irish international after Wolves put him on the transfer list when they dropped out of the Championship.
"His wages are too high for where we are. That's common knowledge," manager Kenny Jackett has told the BBC.
Doyle cost Wolves a reported club-record fee of around £6.5m in 2009.
Today's Express adds Celtic will table a £2.5m bid, but the Daily Mail claims Wolves will compromise on a fee to allow Doyle to move to the KC for just £2m.
Staying with, The Mail, and it picks up on those Jake Livermore and Tom Huddlestone rumours we discussed yesterday. It says the Tottenham duo are available to loan and buy respectively.
The Mail also gives City a "health rating" of 6/10 for Bruce's summer work so far, pointing to two defeats in eight pre-season encounters and eight signins ... although it suggests more new faces are needed.
Will one of those new arrivals be Evian's Mohammed Rabiu? The French club has become Steve Bruce's favourite calling place after he signed striker Yannick Sagbo and offered a trial to Erik Tie Bi. Now, he is talks with Rabiu, who has spent time in Italy and has eight caps for Ghana.
Real Betis - City's opponents at the KC last Saturday - have also been linked with Rabiu, a midfield enforcer described by African journalists as "affordable, but very efficient". Bruce is looking to conclude a deal within 48 hours.
Meanwhile, the City boss still has some work to do if he also wants to bring in Marseilles' Morgan Amalfitano. The good news is Marseilles are happy to let him go; the bad news is Amalfitano is not sure he wants to come to East Yorkshire. Still, past experience has shown that if anyone can turn a head, Bruce can.Crazy Twitter talk: It's the rumour that just won't die - Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner to Hull City was raised again by various papers and websites over the weekend. Perhaps Niall McGlone puts its most succinctly by tweeting: "In which universe can we afford Huddlestone, Bendtner and Livermore? Lazy journalism. At least pick a random French player."August 11
Spurs seems to be the current domestic hunting ground for Steve Bruce if the latest reports are accurate.
The Sunday People says Bruce is not only targeting midfielder Tom Huddlestone but is now also pursuing Jake Livermore
Central midfielder Livermore managed to break into the first-team Spurs squad in 2011 and has made 46 appearances in the last two seasons. Prior to that he was on loan spells at no less than six Championship and League One clubs.
He's not a free scoring midfielder but more suited to a deep central or anchor role with a reputation for good passing and strong tackling. Seems an ideal fit for Bruce's requirements.
The People claims Bruce wants Livermore on a season's loan while looking at a permanent deal for Huddlestone, who most pundits writing this weekend agree was never really able to showcase the extent of his talent in a competitive Spurs team and because of a niggling knee injury.
The People also claims Bruce is looking at Watford striker Troy Deeney who banged in a hat-trick for Watford in their six - one demolition of Bournemouth yesterday. Deeney has long been linked to a KC move but whether Bruce wants to fork out £2million plus on another striker seems doubtful when he remains very focused on bolstering his midfield.
Celtic are also reported to be tracking Deeney as a replacement for former City target Gary Hooper. who, by the way, hasn't had the greatest start with new club Norwich after injuring his leg in their friendly win over Panathinaikos. The £5million man left Carrow Road on a stretcher.
Bruce himself is quoted in the Mail on Sunday saying his ideal transfer targets are players with Premier League experience. But he added: "The main thing I have learned is you need character in the dressing room - and I think I've got players here who have plenty of that."
Staying on Bruce for Crazy Twitter Talk it seems a couple of people have picked up on the suggestion that the City manager is off to France with Mr Allam's cheque book. We hinted something was afoot yesterday, seems things will become clearer tomorrow.
