Hull City have joined Wigan Athletic and Nottingham Forest in the race to sign recently released Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton, Football Insider have reported.

The Tigers confirmed Doncaster Rovers boss Grant McCann as their new manager on Friday, and it seems he is already moving to make changes to his new squad.

It had been reported on Saturday by Football Insider that Hutton was set to join Wigan having completed a medical at the DW Stadium, before reports emerged from The Sun claiming that Forest were edging towards a deal for the 34-year-old.

It now appears that Hull will attempt to hijack the moves of their Championship rivals for the Scot, as they look to strengthen their own squad ahead of next season, with The Tigers moving into pole position to sign the full back, whose future is expected to be confirmed .

Hutton made 33 Championship appearances, scoring twice, for Villa last season as they were promoted to the Premier League after a three year absence following their 2-1 victory over Derby in the Championship play-off final.

The verdict

I can see this being a good signing for Hull.

With a new manager in place and bigger clubs circling around some of there key players, it already appears as though the aim for next season will consolidating a place in the Championship for The Tigers.

Bringing in a defender with Hutton's experience and reliability feels like something that would help them do that, and he has been around this division long enough to know how to help do so.

Hutton's availability on a free transfer should also be appealing to Hull, as it allows them to move quickly in the window, having been made to wait until McCann's appointment to make moves for any summer signings.