Hull City transfers state of play as transfer window flies open
SPECULATION CONTINUES TO GROW SURROUNDING TIGERS’ NEW-LOOK SQUAD NEXT TERM
THE transfer window has been proverbially thrown open with clubs in the UK able to officially sign players ahead of the new season which gets under way at the end of next month.
Hull City are one of the many clubs in the Championship expecting a busy few weeks as head coach Shota Arveladze looks to improve his squad and turn it into one capable of challenging at the opposite end of the table next term.
While much of the focus has surrounding incomings at the MKM Stadium, players leaving remains high on the agenda as Arveladze looks to freshen things up for a big campaign ahead.
Here. The Mail takes a look at where things stand 10 days out from the start of pre-season training,
Incomings: Allahyar Sayyadmanesh
The Iranian youngster will complete his move in the coming days which will see his loan stint turned into a permanent one after impressing in the latter half of the season. Allahyar is currently away on international duty but the terms of his switch from Fenerbahce have all been agreed, with City paying around £2m to bring him to England permanently on a long-term deal.
Adama Traore
Mali international Traore has agreed terms on a two-year contract at the MKM Stadium with his move completed, subject to official announcement from the Tigers in due course. The midfielder has become the club’s first signing of the summer and is expected to begin pre-season training on June 20.
Ozan Tufan
Likely to be one of the most eyecatching transfers of the window in the Championship this summer, the experienced midfielder will link up with City later this month in a deal understood to be in the region of £4m, should various clauses be activated - including one which would see the Tigers pay more should they win promotion to the Premier League.
Capped 65 times by Turkey, Tufan has fallen out of favour in Istanbul and following a difficult spell at Watford last term, is keen to come to City with a desire to prove one or two doubters wrong and will be given a two-year deal with the option of a third, as is customary at the club.
Jean Michael Seri
Another signing that would catch the eye, Fulham’s promotionwinning midfielder is viewed as the perfect replacement for departing skipper Richie Smallwood. Seri has been released by Marco Silva among a clutch of other players following the Cottagers’ promotion to the Premier League, and
Arveladze along with Acun Ilicali believe they have put together a package to convince the Frenchman that he should move to the MKM Stadium.
Nathan Baxter
The goalkeeper remains high on the list of targets after impressing while on loan last season. Baxter remains keen on a reunion with the Tigers, but a decision is understood to yet to have been made by Chelsea who remain in the midst of their takeover situation. City are open to a permanent deal and indeed another loan move.
Anthony Nwakaeme
Nigerian winger Anthony Nwakaeme is a target for City, though it remains, at this stage, unlikely the Trabszonspor man will make a move to the MKM Stadium in this window.
The rest?
Given Ilicali’s status in Turkey, it’s perhaps not surprising to see the Tigers linked with a myriad of players from the Super Lig and that’s likely to continue. Reports suggesting City are trying to sign Benjamin Tetteh and Dimitrios Pelkas are not true, while links to Bournemouth’s Gavin Kilkenny are also wide of the mark.
Who else?
City remain keen on adding to their ranks in the top half of the pitch and have targetted two players currently operating in the UK. One would be a straight buy and the second would likely be a loan switch with negotiations ongoing.
The Tigers are hoping to add around seven players to their squad ahead of the new season start date, though with squad players deemed surplus to requirements expected to move on in search of regular football, that number is likely to reach double figures.
Outgoings: Keane Lewis-potter
City want to keep their star man at the club, a desire backed up in recent weeks by both Acun Ilicali and vice-chairman Tan Kesler, but the reality of the piece is that the club must take into account the feeling of the player concerned.
While there is no suggestion whatsoever that Lewis-potter is pushing for a move away from the club, his long-stated desire to play in the Premier League remains intact, and with growing interest from the league above, Ilicali will almost certainly arrive at a crossroads in the coming weeks.
Should the Tigers reluctantly
accept what would be significant money for the 21-year-old, Hull Live understands the proceeds of a sale would be invested straight back into the squad in order for Lewis-potter’s goals, assists, and overall influence to be replaced.
No deal is yet in place for Lewispotter, but it’s understood the club are working on potential replacements should it happen.
George Honeyman
The influential number 10 has been superb for City in the past two seasons and the club would be loathed to lose him for a number of reasons, but with discussions currently stalling over a new deal and just the option year to run before he can walk away for free, the club are facing a significant decision.
Honeyman has previously reiterated his desire to remain at the MKM Stadium and guide the club back to the Premier League, but having rejected fresh terms, his future could very well be away from the club, whether that be now or in the near future.
Mallik Wilks
While City activated Wilks’ option year last month, it was more with a view to being able to command a transfer fee for the 23-year-old striker, knowing there would be no shortage of interest in the ex-leeds United youngster.
Sheffield Wednesday are growing increasingly confident of being able to secure a move for Wilks, who is understood to be keen on swapping the MKM Stadium for Hillsborough, having been given assurances that will feature prominently in the
Owls’ promotion bid under Darren Moore next term.
Tyler Smith
Last summer’s arrival from Sheffield United, Smith has found the going tough at Championship level scoring just once in the league and once in the FA Cup defeat to Everton. Like Wilks, Smith has found himself down the pecking order following the arrival of Arveladze, and though he’s featured with more regularity than Wilks, City have decided they need a complete refresh up front after the struggles of last season.
Callum Elder
Australian left-back Callum Elder is another who saw his option year activated last month meaning his contract runs until next summer, however, Hull Live understands the ex-leicester City man may well be allowed to move on, should an offer come his way.
Brandon Fleming is seen as City’s first choice in that position for the new season, and Elder’s desire to play regularly is understandable, particularly if Australia were to qualify for the World Cup.
Andy Cannon
To his credit, the midfielder wanted to go and get games after recovering from injury and that’s exactly what he did at Stockport County.
While some may have raised an eyebrow at Cannon dropping into the National League, his decision was vindicated as he helped guide the Hatters back into the Football League after a lengthy absence.
Cannon is stepping up his summer fitness work ahead of the return to pre-season training on Monday week, and though Arveladze values the 26-year-old’s desire and work ethic, it’s likely he’ll be allowed to move on this summer with County keen to take him to Edgeley Park permanently.
George Moncur
Another of last summer’s arrivals when the club were working under a transfer embargo, Moncur has found it difficult to get regular football at City.
Shortly before the end of the season, Arveladze highlighted his frustration with the ex-luton and Barnsley man. It would not be unlikely to see the club look to move Moncur on with his chances this term likely to be few and far between.
“The fans and players know his capabilities, and he will be ready if he attracts some extra attention. Lachlan and all of us are ready for the challenge ahead.”
The last time the two sides met, Saints put Rovers to the sword.
Three tries from Tommy Makinson, two apiece from Sione Mata’utia and Lewis Dodd, and one from Alex Walmsley saw the champions leave Sewell Group Craven Park with a 42-8 victory, a game in which Coote was pulled from the field early with a hamstring niggle.
Coote will be hoping to cause a major upset on his Saints return, but he and the rest of the Hull KR squad will need to be at their best to have any chance of leaving with the two points.