Hull overpaid for British talent – Bruce

Bruce enjoyed great success in the domestic market last summer with Curtis Davies (£2.25m) and Tom Huddlestone (£5.25m) proving particularly good value.

But having established themselves for a second year in the Premier League, as well as earning a Europa League qualifying spot courtesy of their run to the FA Cup final, Hull are finding it harder to strike a deal this time round.

Instead, they have been forced to shell out top money for the likes of Jake Livermore and Robert Snodgrass, who cost a combined £15m, with more to come when the Tom Ince tribunal makes its verdict.

“There’s the problem in our game; you identify a young English lad but you can get a player from overseas for half the price,” said Bruce, during the Tigers’ warm-weather training camp in Portugal.

“If I can buy in our market I always will. You pay a premium for a young British player and that’s what we’ve done.

“We’ve got a 22-year-old, a 24-year-old and a 26-year-old. It’s cost us more money but I would expect that.”

Luiz Felipe Scolari has resigned as manager of Brazil.

The 65-year-old stood down as the World Cup hosts could only finish fourth, having been thrashed in their semi-final 7-1 by Germany, who went on to lift the trophy in Rio.