Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce stated that Tom Huddlestone produced one of the best performances he’d ever seen while at Hull City
Back in January of last year, then Hull City boss Steve Bruce claimed it would be ‘madness’ for The Tigers to sell midfielder Tom Huddlestone amid reported interest from Derby County, per the BBC.
However, a year-and-a-half on, that decision may be taken out of Hull’s hands. The Sun report that Huddlestone has a clause in his contract allowing him to leave the KCom Stadium for just £2 million following their relegation from the Premier League – a fee West Brom appear more than happy to pay.
As such, Huddlestone could join up with his former midfield partner Jake Livermore at The Hawthorns if he follows Curtis Davies in leaving the managerless Tigers this summer.
However, you wonder whether Bruce will see this as a perfect opportunity to reunite with one of his favourite former players – one who kick-started his career under the affable coach in 2013/14 after falling out of favour at Tottenham Hotspur.
Leaving no stone unturned
“I’ve seen some great individual performances but I’ve never witnessed something as outstanding as what he produced today,” Bruce claimed in December 2013 after Huddlestone inspired a 6-0 thrashing of Fulham, as reported by The Mirror.
“It will live long in the memory.”
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce
Financial Fair Play may be preventing current club Aston Villa from replicating last season’s £70 million splurge but Huddlestone’s bargain fee means he remains well within the Midland giant’s price range.
Furthermore, Bruce is understood to be in the market for reinforcements in midfield following recent links with Burton Albion’s ten-goal star Jackson Irvine and Barnsley enforcer Josh Scowen.
However, Bruce may find the prospect of reuniting with Huddlestone a difficult one to turn down.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
