HULL City boss Steve Bruce is prepared to let Tom Cairney join Blackburn Rovers on a permanent basis – as long as a fee can be agreed.

The Tigers say they have rejected Rovers’ initial bid for the midfielder, who has impressed since moving to Ewood Park on loan in August.

Cairney’s loan deal expires after the New Year’s Day trip to Leeds United but Rovers are attempting to sign the 22-year-old on a permanent basis.

The player has also said he would be happy to stay at Rovers, but much depended on whether Bruce wanted Cairney to return to the KC Stadium for the second half of the season.

The Hull boss has now intimated, however, that he will allow Cairney and former Rovers loanee Cameron Stewart to seek regular football elsewhere.

Cairney has only six months to run on his contract with Hull and, speaking about Rovers’ interest yesterday, Bruce said: “I’m sure negotiations will be ongoing.”