Hull hopeful of securing Ayala on permanent deal as Pearson prepares for Blackpool’s visit

The Tigers have made six signings already this summer but are still keen to add the 20-year-old to their ranks.

Reds manager Kenny Dalglish is believed to rate Ayala in the £1m bracket but it is not known whether Hull agree with that valuation.

Ayala spent three months on loan at the KC Stadium last season and impressed in 12 appearances before returning to Anfield at Christmas. He subsequently moved to Derby County on loan.

Pearson wants to increase his options at centre-half with Paul McShane recently being ruled out for up to three months, leaving just Jack Hobbs and James Chester along with youngster Sonny Bradley available to Hull’s manager.

He said: “Ayala is a target and we have put a bid in. The clubs are in discussion and we will see how that develops.”

Asked if he expects to bring in a new face before tomorrow night when Hull kick off the Football League season with a home game against Blackpool, Pearson replied: “I never rule anything in or out but I would say it is unlikely (before Friday).”

The need for defensive cover is one of a couple of headaches for Hull ahead of the season’s opener at the KC Stadium with the other being the on-going saga involving Jimmy Bullard.

The club record signing was told to stay away from training for a fortnight following a breach of discipline on last month’s pre-season tour of Slovenia. That suspension ended earlier this week but Bullard has still not been allowed to return as Hull continue an internal investigation.

It is understood Hull are considering all eventualities, including a possible severing of the midfielder’s remaining two-year £48,000-per-week contract.

Whether that is an option open to the club remains to be seen with Hull’s legal advisers telling officials to remain tight-lipped.

Asked yesterday about Bullard’s situation, Pearson said: “All I can do really is to reiterate what I said last weekend and say the club will make an announcement when it is appropriate. Until that point, I or the club will not make any further statement.

“I fully understand that the question keeps being asked but I will just give the answer that is right for the moment. When that changes, you will know about it.”

Considering the uncertainty over his future, it is perhaps understandable that Bullard has not been handed a squad number by Pearson ahead of the new season.

Others also to miss out when the list was confirmed this week were Seyi Olofinjana and Kamel Ghilas, the pair having spent last season on loan at Cardiff City and French club Arles Avignon respectively.

Pearson said: “If you cast your mind back to last year there were players who got a squad number after not being in the initial squad when we needed to use them.

“There is nothing sinister in it, it is just the way it works. Players earn the right really.”

Aaron Mclean will be missing tomorrow night through injury but Jay Simpson has returned to training this week and should be available for the visit of newly-relegated Blackpool.

Tigers chief Pearson said: “The mood is very positive and it is a game that we are all looking forward to. We have moved quite a long way in the space of 12 months in terms of the squad and how it looks.

“As for Blackpool, you don’t hear me talking too much about other teams but I would suspect that they are in a stable position financially and I would fully expect them to play in the same sort of style that we have seen in the past.

“You would expect them to be a tough proposition.

“It will be tough because they play with a lot of spirit and belief in their own style.”