Hull City owner Acun Ilicali is determined to improve the club’s attacking firepower this summer.
City ended the Championship campaign as the lowest scorers with just 44 from their 46 games, and it was their struggles in the final third that ensured their survival went to the final day of the season, staying up on goal difference.
Joao Pedro was the Tigers’ leading scorer with just six goals and has since left the club, so the emphasis is on bringing in the firepower that can give new boss Sergej Jakirovic a chance of ensuring a relegation scrap is not repeated.
Chris Bedia left the club in January and ended up as the third highest scorer with his three goals, further highlighting their struggles over the past 12 months, and its something the club must find an answer to.
Mason Burstow and Kyle Joseph cost almost £5m between them, but with just two goals for Burstow to show for that level of investment, Jakirovic will be aiming for a better return.
“Yes, the striker position is the position that has caused damage in my soul,” Ilicali told Hull Live with a wry smile. “This year, my first focus is to recover that damage. Also, I think our fans have the same damage, and we have to show them how big our passion is for this year by bringing in a good striker, or maybe strikers.”
The Tigers have so far signed three players and are in talks with other potential new recruits as they look to tie up deals for free agent Oli McBurnie, as well as having discussions with Nottingham Forest over Lewis O’Brien and another top-flight outfit about a potential left-back arrival, amongst others.
Ilicali says as many as seven or eight new faces are expected in total, though that number could rise depending on the amount of departures from the squad.
After spending a significant amount last summer, City must be more frugal in the coming weeks, something Ilicali admits when it comes to working within financial fair play limits.
Unlike 12 months ago when Tim Walter inherited a depleted squad, Jakirovic at least has numbers to work with when the squad report back at Cottingham on Monday morning. He will also have the benefit of having Liam Millar and Mohamed Belloumi back during pre-season, leading Ilicali to suggest the squad is in a good place.
“Actually, I can say that we have space, but not a big space to make transfers (to ensure the club remain within FFP),” he continued. “I think we have very, very high-quality players in the squad now.
“We will have five loan options, plus four or five transfers, so I expect that seven or eight players will come in this year. I believe that the skeleton of the team is already strong, and with seven or eight newcomers, I think we will have a team that all of our fans will be proud of.”
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