Hull City are widening their net in the search for a new striker after what looks to be a change of plan in attempts to strengthen an attacking line that struggled for goals last season. The Tigers have long been linked with a move for former Sheffield United forward Oliver McBurnie, who is now a free agent after his deal with Las Palmas expired on June 30.
As a free agent City are able to sign the player despite being under a three-window transfer fee restriction, but with an appeal lodged to the EFL over the severity of that punishment, the club have placed all incoming deals on hold and have made it clear they won’t complete any incoming deals until the outcome of that appeal is known.
That is not thought to be an issue stopping them from signing McBurnie, rather the Scotland international’s large salary demands which would make him by far the club’s best paid player. McBurnie continues to attract attention from a host of clubs in England and as a free agent, it is allowing the player to maximise his salary demands.
That demand looks to have priced City out of any move in their current financial position. The Tigers haven’t officially ended their interest in McBurnie, but it’s understood the club have changed their position and now consider the chances of him coming to the MKM Stadium as very unlikely.
Hull Live can reveal City had previously shown an interest in signing former Huddersfield Town and Bermuda international Nahki Wells, who has this week signed with Luton Town after becoming a free agent following his exit from Bristol City. The Tigers have also shown an interest in Liverpool’s young teenage striker Lewis Koumas, who impressed on loan at Stoke City last year.
With City placing all deals on hold that interest may not go anywhere, as rival clubs circle with Sheffield United and Norwich City now both reported as trying to push to get a deal done. Liverpool are likely to want a loan fee paying for Koumas, which would now rule out any deal unless City get their transfer fee restriction lifted by the EFL. However, as things stand the Tigers have not made any approach for Koumas, with him just remaining as a player of interest.
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