Paper Talk: Jack Hobbs Been Given Permission to Talk to Wigan

I don't think it is a massive secret that we are short on defenders. With Gary Caldwell, Ivan Ramis and Thomas Rogne out for the foreseeable future we needed to bring in more defensive players. So far Tyias Browning from Everton has been Uwe Rosler's answer to our problems, but the young defender has had a mixed look about him.

Jack Hobbs the 25 year-old defender had been look destined to sign for Nottingham Forrest after signing a loan deal in the summer with the option to make the move permanent. It was said that earlier in the window both Wigan and Reading had looked to test Hull City's resolve about the player after he impressed at Nottingham.

The result was Steve Bruce publicly stating we had made an inquiry. This was believed to be more a PR stunt and a wake up call for Nottingham to deal out the money now so Steve Bruce had some to play with over the rest of the January window.

No deal was forth coming and Hobbs has since been recalled to Hull. Since then it look like we have stepped up our interest and are willing to pay the asking price for the defender. The reports are suggetsing that Hobbs and his agent will open talks with both us and Reading tomorrow over the possibility of the move.

Watch this space as this deal could happen.