Hull City up ante with take it or leave it Austin offer

Sources in Hull suggested the Tigers had launched a take-it-or-leave-it bid for the 28-goal hitman, who turns 24 tomorrow.

Late on Wednesday night, Hull were believed to have upped their initial, unsuccessful, bid of in the region of £3.5m to in excess of £4m for the forward - though if they had, Burnley were seemingly unaware this morning.

City, promoted back to the Premier League last season as Championship runners-up behind Cardiff City, returned to pre-season training today, and are hopeful of finally resolving the long-running transfer saga over the next day or so.

At the start of the week, there were premature reports claiming Burnley had agreed a fee with Hull, quickly knocked down by joint-chairman John Banaszkiewicz, who said: “There are a number of clubs interested in Charlie, but we’ve not agreed anything with anyone at this stage.

“There is nothing finalised at our side. We have had communication with a number of clubs, but we’re still some way away from agreeing anything.”

And he also revealed a bid to keep him at the club, as he enters the final year of his contract: “We’re trying our best to keep him and have offered a very good contract.”