Steve Bruce: Rudy Gestede deal a "non-starter"

Steve Bruce has claimed that Hull City have abandoned their pursuit of Blackburn Rovers striker Rudy Gestede.

The Tigers enquired about the availability of the towering Frenchman, who has scored 12 goals in 23 Championship games this season and has also been linked with West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace.

However, Bruce has insisted that the deal was a "non-starter" as there was too much difference between the club's respective valuations.

He told a Friday press conference: "I called Gary [Bowyer] two or three days ago to clarify the situation and we talked briefly. It was a non-starter before we got anywhere.

"I enquired about him and the answer came back not at the sort of figures we're talking about. It's not going to happen."

Hull's search for a new striker has intensified after learning that Nikica Jelavic and Abel Hernandez could miss up to six weeks of action.