Nottingham Forest could be set to welcome into the fold Hull defender Jack Hobbs.
The 24-year-old, who is understood to have agreed to a loan move for the season, joined Hull from Leicester in the summer of 2011.
Born in Portsmouth, the centre-half began his career at Lincoln City. Having joined the club as a boy in 1999, Hobbs went on to secure a three-year scholarship with the Imps, commencing at the start of the 2004–05 season.
At 16 he became the youngest ever player to wear the Lincoln shirt in the league, playing three minutes as a substitute in a League Two match against Bristol Rovers.
That summer the rising star looked set for a move to Arsenal, but the deal fell through because the club reportedly wanted a sell-on clause removed.
But it wasn't long until Hobbs was snapped up – in August 2005 he penned a pre-contract with Liverpool.
He officially joined the club on his 17th birthday, signing a three-year professional deal.
By November 2007 he had earned high praise from Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia, who said he believed Hobbs could play an important role in the future of the club.
"He is better than me when I was his age, and he is not slow to carry the ball out of defence, perhaps something I do not do these days," said Hyypia.
"It was a great start for Jack, and hopefully he now has many more games to go in his career at Liverpool.
"He is still young and has lots to learn, but he is willing to learn every day. Sometimes he asks for advice and I am more than willing to give it.
"His strength is his height, and I can see a lot of myself in him. He has similar qualities that I have, and this is not a bad start for him.
"If he keeps improving he can be one for the future here at Liverpool."
But in January 2008, amid the £6.5million capture of Skrtel and the impending return to fitness of Agger, Hobbs found his opportunities at Anfield limited. Consequently he headed to Scunthorpe United on a season-long loan deal.
And that July Leicester struck a deal with the Reds to take Hobbs to the Walkers Stadium for the whole of the forthcoming season.
"Jack Hobbs is a good player and adds strength to our squad," said Leicester boss Nigel Pearson.
Having helped Leicester return to the Championship as League One winners, Hobbs joined the club on a permanent basis in April 2009.
The England under-19 international penned a four-year contract, telling BBC Sport: "I couldn't be happier here. Leicester have shown great faith in me and instilled me with great confidence. I really am over the moon."
The fans' love for Hobbs soon became evident – in April 2010 he was named Leicester City's player of the season, having polled more than 40 per cent of the votes of fans.
He also shared the players' player of the year award with midfielder Andy King, and topped the Leicester Mercury's online poll to find the readers' favourite player of the season.
http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Jack-Hobbs-nets-Leicester-City-s-player-year-award/story-12084806-detail/story.html#axzz2ZCNSg8vf
In February 2011, having fallen down the City pecking order, Hobbs joined Hull City on loan until the end of the season.
Foxes boss Sven Goran Eriksson said of the 22-year-old: "It is good for Jack. We loan him out but we do it for him and for ourselves as well.
"We want him to develop through playing as much football as possible."
By May 2011, having impressed during his loan stint at the KC Stadium, a host of Championship clubs were said to be chasing 22-year-old Hobbs.
But it was Hull who secured the defender's signature. He penned a three-year contract in June, understood to have cost Hull in the region of £850,000.
Having quickly established himself as a key player in Nick Barmby's side and being named captain in August 2011, Hobbs' season came to a premature end when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament making a goal-line clearance against Coventry in April 2012.
The news came as a major blow for the club, to which Hobbs did not return until December 2012.
Fast-forward seven months and a loan deal with Nottingham Forest looks set to be completed within hours. Hobbs played 22 games for Hull last season and helped the club win promotion to the Premier League.
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