Hull confident over Negredo deal

Real Madrid forward Alvaro Negredo heads Hull manager Phil Brown’s wanted list as he continues his search for new blood before the end of the transfer window.

The Tigers yesterday unveiled Republic of Ireland midfielder Stephen Hunt and Algerian striker Kamel Ghilas, their third and fourth signings of the close season, but talk soon turned to the club’s audacious move for the £12m-rated Negredo.

Brown and Hull chairman Paul Duffen both remain confident of agreeing a deal for the Spaniard, with a season-long loan deal a possibility, despite interest in the player from some big European names.

With Liverpool reportedly turning down Negredo as a makeweight in Xabi Alonso’s move to the Bernabeu and Tottenham’s interest cooling, City appear to be the only Premier League club in for Negredo, but with Stuttgart, Roma, Zenit St Petersburg and Villarreal also circling, competition remains strong.

Nevertheless, Brown said: “As for Negredo, it has been four to six weeks since we first made contact with Real Madrid, but it’s hard dealing with a club as big as they are.

“In terms of European football, they are number one, two or three. One minute you think you are 95% there and the next moment it’s 50-50 again.”