Hull City have held talks with Liverpool about Daniel Ayala returning to the KC Stadium on loan.
Liverpool defender at the top of Pearson's list of targets
Hull City's head of football operations Adam Pearson believes Liverpool defender Daniel Ayala could return to the KC Stadium this season.
Ayala had made 12 appearances for the Tigers during the first half of the campaign, but is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.
The situation had led to Roy Hodgson criticising Hull for not sending Ayala back to Anfield sooner and it was thought the Spaniard would not be allowed to rejoin the Championship club.
However, Hodgson's subsequent sacking by Liverpool has prompted the Tigers to reopen talks regarding another deal for Ayala once the centre-half is fit again.
Very good player
"I'd say the chances of Daniel coming back are pretty good," Pearson told the
Hull Daily Mail.
"Obviously he is injured until the middle of February, but he is a very good player who enjoyed his time here, and the management team definitely enjoyed having him here.
"He may not be in the first-team picture at Liverpool and he needs to play games.
"For Daniel to come back things have to fall into place. It may be that James Chester comes and settles immediately and we won't need another centre-half.
"But if we were to be in the market for a centre-half then he would be right at the top of the list for the management at the moment."
