Hull City manager Steve Bruce has slammed a £7m (N1.7billion) price tag on unsettled Nigerian hit-man Sone Aluko.
Aluko is considering his future just three months after penning a new two-and-a-half-year deal with the Tigers.
The Nigerian international striker, 25, is frustrated by a lack of first team opportunities following his return to fitness after being sidelined for four months with a torn Achilles.
Crystal Palace are closely monitoring Aluko’s situation, and Eagles boss Tony Pulis is poised to swoop this summer if the former Birmingham and Rangers marksman pushes for a move away from the KC Stadium.
But City chief Bruce made it clear that London-born Aluko will not be allowed to leave on the cheap.
Bruce said: “In my eyes, Sone is a £7m player. I can understand his frustration because, if you are not playing and you’ve got something about you, then of course you question it.
“At the end of the day a player only thinks of one thing, and that’s himself. I was the same – if you are not playing, you’re not happy.
“But, just because we paid £7m each for Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic in January, it doesn’t mean Sone is out on his ear.”
“I see Sone as a big part of what we are trying to do here, but we need to get him fully fit and back to being the player I know he is.”
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