Hull City have 'climbed into pole position' to land released Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton, according to Football Insider.
The 34-year-old free agent was linked with Nottingham Forest on Sunday with a report in The Sun that claimed both Martin O'Neill's side and Wigan Athletic had offered him deals for next season.
But now the Tigers, who on Friday appointed Grant McCann as their new manager, are said to have hijacked any Reds deal for the former Tottenham Hotspur man with an attractive offer.
Hutton, who played for Forest during a loan spell in 2012, was named on Villa's released list at the end of the season along with Glenn Whelan and Reds 'target' Albert Adomah.
Last season he was a regular for Dean Smith's side, starting 30 of the club's first 33 league matches before a hamstring injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
He also scored the goal that sealed his side a memorable 4-2 victory over bitter rivals Birmingham City at Villa Park.
Twelve months ago, the Reds thought the former Scotland international had agreed to join them a year ago on a free transfer, before a last minute decision to sign a new contract at Villa.
