Potential Hull City catch Abdoulaye Faye: Player profile

Hull City boss Steve Bruce is believed to have his eye on former West Ham United player Abdoulaye Faye.

Faye is currently a free agent, having been released by the club at the end of last season.

He played for West Ham for one season, joining the club in the summer of 2011.

Faye made his name in French football before initially moving to England with the Bolton Wanderers in the summer of 2005.

The Lens' Senegal defender joined the club on a season-long loan after he was granted a work permit to move to The Reebok.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce told BBC Sport at the time: "He will be a great addition to our squad.”

Allardyce also said of the sportsman, who can play either at centre-half or as a defensive midfielder: “He's a versatile player with proven experience in France and possesses the right character to play in what is the toughest league in the world."

Faye made his debut for Bolton against Newcastle United, where he enjoyed a 2–0 home win.

By November, Allardyce had gone on record saying Faye was the club's most influential player that season. "He has been outstanding in every match he played in this season,” he told BBC Sport.

"From my point of view he is our best player and is looking comfortable in front of the back four."

The following month Faye signed a permanent deal to keep him at the club until 2008.

In October 2006 Faye suffered mild concussion during The Trotters' 1-0 win over Blackburn. The clash with Jussi Jaaskelainen saw him ruled out of the midweek Carling Cup tie against Charlton, and forced him to miss the visit to The Valley.

In the months that followed, rumours spread that Wigan Athletic had made a £1.5million bid for the defender – a suggestion new Bolton boss Sammy Lee denied.

Reports also suggested Sam Allardyce, who had recently left Bolton, was linked with a bid to take Faye to his new club Newcastle United.

In August 2007 Faye did indeed sign up with Newcastle, penning a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

It wasn’t until February 2008 that Faye scored his first - and only - goal for Newcastle United during the 5–1 defeat at home to Manchester United. He played 22 games for the club.

Faye’s next move was to Stoke City, who he joined in August 2008 for a fee of £2.25 million.

He made his debut for Stoke in a 3-2 win over Aston Villa in August 2008, and scored his first goal for the club against his old club Newcastle. It came in the 90th minute of the match to earn Stoke a point in a 2–2 draw.

In April 2010, Faye signalled his desire to see out his playing days at Stoke. Shortly afterwards it was reported that Potters boss Tony Pulis was ready to sit down and discuss a new deal.

By November, Pulis was forced to publicly insist that Faye was still in his plans. "Abdy has been a big part of what we have done here at this club and remains a big part of what we're still trying to do at the Britannia," he told The Sentinel.

The following months Celtic were reported to be interested in the player, while Pulis publicly said he hoped Faye could be persuaded to stay with Stoke.

Faye was set to join Celtic in February 2011, but the deal fell through. Some claimed it was down to Faye's fitness, but Pulis insisted it was because he felt the Potters needed to keep cover in defence.

"For people to put it about that Abdy had failed a medical is wrong and an insult," he told the Sentinel. “It's totally out of order, because it never happened.”

In May, Stoke confirmed Faye had departed the club following the expiration of his contract. The 33-year-old was out of contract after the Potters opted against offering him new terms.

Pulis told the club's official website. “We are moving forward as a club and unfortunately there are times when you have to make tough decisions that allow you to bring in the new faces which can improve the squad, and this is obviously one of them."

In June 2011, Faye penned a deal with West Ham United – a move which saw him link up with former boss Sam Allardyce for the third time.

He made his club debut in August in a 4–0 away win against Watford, and helped the club to gain a return to the Premier League.

He left the club in in May 2012, having made 29 appearances.

It remains to be seen whether Steve Bruce will make a move for Faye.