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Steve Bruce is ready to let Ahmed Elmohamady leave for the Premier League.

Leicester, Swansea, Everton and Aston Villa will fight to sign Hull’s £5million-rated winger when the January transfer window opens up.

The Egypt international is keen to make a quick return to the top flight following City’s relegation last May, and a source confirmed: ”The player is expected to leave Hull in January.

“Several offers have been received from Premier League clubs who are interested in Ahmed because of his experience, and he prefers to continue his English journey.”

And Tigers boss Bruce, preparing for a trip to Cardiff on Tuesday, confirmed: “I won’t stand in his way. Elmo is in the final year of his contract with us, and the last thing we would want is to lose him on a free next summer.

(Image: Harry Hubbard)

“Ideally, we want him to stay for longer and we intend to talk to him about signing a new long-term deal. And, while he is here, he’s got to knuckle down and respect the contract he has got with us.

“He is just one of several players we’ve got who are desperate to play in the Premier League, and why wouldn’t they be? I want to manage in the Premier League.

“But you have got to accept that we’ve been relegated and, together, it’s up to us to put that right.”

Hull need to stay in contention for a first-time promotion back to the big time to have any chance of holding on to Elmohamady, who makes his 101st consecutive league start for the Tigers on Tuesday night.

(Image: Harry Hubbard)

And former Sunderland chief Bruce, who brought 'Elmo' to England when he signed him for the Black Cats from Cairo big guns ENPPI five years ago and then took him to the KC in 2012, believes that’s a target his side can achieve.

City suffered their second defeat of the season at Championship leaders Brighton last Saturday, but Bruce insists: “We have got a good group of players here, and we’ll only get better as the season goes on.

“I believe this squad is stronger than the one that did really well and got us up to the Premier League two years ago.

“The challenge for us is to prove we are better but, as I’ve said from the start, I am confident we shall be there or thereabouts.”