Bristol City, Burnley, Swansea and Millwall transfer blow for Chelsea starlet

Hull City boss Liam Rosenior has revealed that the club are close to securing the permanent signing of Chelsea loan midfielder Xavier Simons.

The 20-year-old made his full debut in the Tigers' goalless draw with Preston North End at the MKM Stadium on the weekend. He came out on top as one of the best-performing players.

Simons joined Hull on September 1, but he had to wait a month until his debut, and then there was a gap of three-months before he played another match. He has had 170 minutes of pitch time on Humberside, but has been given more action since Liam Rosenior took over from Georgian international Shota Arveladze.

Despite his lack of minutes, Hull were trying to sign him on a permanent deal before the end of the transfer window, but a deal did not take place. Hull have now got themselves in to a position however that Simons will join permanently and the deal is all but in place. It is a blow to Burnley, Millwall, Swanea City and Bristol City, who were also linked with a move to the England Under-19 international, and were expected to make a move for him in the summer

Hull Live journalist Barry Cooper said: "Few points from the press conf: Ryan Lowe said both sides were negative in the first half, Liam Rosenior laughed when I put that to him. Xavier Simons deal with Chelsea all but done and staying at #hcafc. He’s staying. I spoke to him last night, got an interview to come."

City signed forward Harry Cornick and Anis Mehmeti on deadline day, but Simons is a centre-midfielder. As for midfield options, Nigel Pearson can call upon Andy King, Joe Williams, Kal Naismith, Matty James and youngsters Dylan Kadji and Omar Taylor-Clarke in the summer.