Hull City remain without a new head coach almost two weeks on from the sacking of Ruben Selles as owner Acun Ilicali continues to try and bring in his number one choice.
Ilicali along with his close-knit team of staff have been interviewing various managers both here and abroad, but so far, have not been able to make an appointment.
It’s hoped that the process will conclude in the coming days, but central to any new manager coming in will be their contacts book and with it, an ability to maximise those contacts in the transfer market.
Ilicali will back the new man this summer with funds to strengthen the squad, especially in the top third of the pitch, given the problems we saw throughout the season. It’s no surprise City finished where they did in the Championship after finishing as the league’s lowest scorers.
Funds, however, will be tight. More than £20m was spent last summer on bringing in the likes of Liam Millar, Mohamed Belloumi, Ryan Giles, Abu Kamara, Mason Burstow and Charlie Hughes. More money was spent in January to sign Eliot Matazo and Kyle Joseph.
Getting the best out of those players will be absolutely fundamental because the bones of a good squad is there, unlike last summer when Tim Walter inherited one lacking in numbers, and quality.
One key area City must look to take advantage of this summer is the loan market. Last season, City and Liam Rosenior used it brilliantly for the most part. Liam Delap, Tyler Morton, Noah Ohio and Fabio Carvalho all came in and made huge contributions. Ruben Vinagre, Scott Twine and Anass Zaroury were also signed on temporary deals, though with less success than the others. Ryan Giles was another of the January arrivals and went on to have his move turned permanent last summer.
In the season just gone, the loan market was used again, but without the same success. Fin Burns barely played after coming in from Manchester City, and Carl Rushworth made just two appearances before being recalled by Brighton and Hove Albion, albeit his spell was impacted by injury.
Oscar Zambrano ended up being banned, and Louie Barry’s arrival in January was full of fanfare, but delivered nothing after he picked up a knee ligament injury. Lincoln was neat and tidy, but rarely looked up to the standard required of Championship football, bar one moment at Hillsborough. Gustavo Puerta showed glimpses, and his loan move has now been made permanent.
The stand-out performer was arguably Joe Gelhardt. His five goals kept City in the Championship, and therefore, you’d have to say his loan was a big success. The others, not quite so much.
The reality is that City were never going to have a group as talented as the one Rosenior was given. In many ways, elements of that squad were generational talents at Championship level, and it’s still a sore point that it missed out on the play-offs at the very least.
City’s big challenge over the course of this summer is to be smart in the market. There’s good value in the free transfer market, and they must use the loan system to good effect again.
Whoever the new gaffer ends up being, having good contacts both at home and abroad is vital. City cannot afford to go and buy the next Delap, Morton or Carvalho, but they can use their relationships to try and find him on loan at the very least.