UPDATED:Hull City boss Steve Bruce admits he is closing in on a deal for Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes, but says he must be "patient" to get his man – while a move for Tottenham defender Michael Dawson is also edging nearer.
But Blackburn released a statement today insisting Rhodes was not for sale.
Having seen initial bids of £8m and £10m rejected by the Ewood Park outfit, the Tigers are trying to put together a deal which will meet Rovers' £12m demands.
As the Mail revealed this morning, that could involve a player-plus-cash deal and Bruce says he is optimistic an agreement for the 24-year-old hitman can be thrashed out sooner rather than later.
"The original bid was rejected and I know there were conversations going on at boardroom level yesterday," he told the Mail this morning.
"We'll have to wait and be patient. Obviously, they've got their valuation and we've got ours, so let's hope we can meet somewhere in the middle. If that's the case, then all well and good.
"It's someone that we've watched and looked at for a number of years and he's certainly a very good player."
When asked if Alex Bruce or any other City players could go as part of any deal, he added: "They have enquired about one or two of our players and that could be a possibility. I'm not ruling anything out just yet."
However, Blackburn Rovers released a statement today saying their were determined to keep Rhodes.
Director of Communications Alan Myers said: "We have recently received two official bids for the services of Jordan Rhodes from Hull City FC, both have been respectfully and categorically rejected.
"The owners of Blackburn Rovers wish to reassure fans that their intention is not to sell Jordan Rhodes as they, along with the manager and board of directors, feel that he is integral to our bid to gain promotion back to the Premier League."
Having rekindled his interest in England international Dawson this week, the Tigers are close to agreeing a suitable fee with Spurs to bring the centre-half to the KC Stadium.
"That's another where we are nibbling at and we're hopeful we can progress it," Bruce said.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Allan McGregor could miss Sunday's match against Stoke City because of a shoulder injury picked up in the 1-0 midweek defeat at KSC Lokeren.
Robert Snodgrass has now undergone surgery on the knee injury he suffered at QPR last weekend and could be ruled out for the rest of the season, a cruel blow for the Tigers.
Reflecting on the type of game he expects when the Potters arrive at the KC tomorrow, Bruce said: "They are an established Premier League club and they've got to be one of those clubs we look to emulate.
"I think they got into the division the same time as Hull the first time around and I think they must have been in it now seven or eight years.
"They are a very good team, they had a disappointing result last week, but they finished in the top half of the division last year so it will be a difficult game. But if we can go and get back-to-back wins, that would be a wonderful start to our season."
