Brown in for Brown

The bid, believed to be around two million pounds, will test Steve Bruce’s resolve to hang onto all of his squad.

Michael Brown was in exceptional form last season but has been displaced by Lee Cattermole this season, although he has played well on the occasions when Lee has been unavailable.

Brown who is under contract to the summer of 2010, understandably wants regular first team football and with his 32nd birthday coming up later this month, may view this as his last career move.