HULL City manager Steve Bruce says his attempt to sign Blackburn Rovers top-scorer Rudy Gestede is ‘not going to happen’.

Rovers boss Gary Bowyer yesterday said that Hull were one of a number of Premier League clubs who had expressed an interest in the 12-goal striker.

Bruce, speaking at his press conference this morning, confirmed he had enquired about Gestede.

But he believes any deal for the towering targetman, who is also said to be on the radar of West Brom and Crystal Palace, is a ‘non-starter’.

Bruce, who had a club record £12m bid turned down by Rovers in the summer for Gestede’s strike-partner Jordan Rhodes, said: “I called Gary 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.”