Nigerian Nwakaeme on Tigers’ radar
HULL City are targeting Nigerian veteran Anthony Nwakaeme this summer as they look to bolster their offensive options.
Summer departures have left the Tigers relatively thin on the ground in terms of attacking players and that is an area of the pitch Shota Arveladze seems keen to strengthen.
Nwakaeme could be one of the players to help satisfy the need for further reinforcements and his arrival would be an exciting one.
According to Haber 7 in Turkey, the Trabzonspor forward is attracting interest from those in charge of recruitment at the MKM Stadium.
At 33, City supporters have every right to turn their noses up at such a deal but as he is out of contract and has a brilliant record in front of goal.
In almost 400 senior appearances, Nwakaeme has scored 118 goals and registered 88 assists (according to transfermarkt. co.uk), the kind of attacking pedigree that it desperately needed at City.
He is most proficient operating from the left wing but is more than capable of playing anywhere across the frontline.
That kind of versatility is essential for a squad lacking in attacking options while his vast experience will also be important for some of his potential younger Tigers team-mates.
Providing Keane Lewis-potter and Ryan Longman are still City players next season, they would benefit from watching and learning from a player who has played as a wide attacker for so many years.
Because Nwakaeme will be available for free, it is hard to imagine Arveladze’s side will be the only club hoping to strike a deal.
However, Acun Ilicali will be hoping to tap into his Turkish connections to strike a deal with the player who has played in the City’s owner’s home country for the last four years.