Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic says he hopes to have three new signings arrive in the dressing room in the next few days as the Tigers look to beef up their squad after a flurry of departures. The Bosnian was speaking after City’s latest pre-season friendly win at Stockport County, courtesy of Mason Burstow’s header 15 minutes from time.
That victory at Edgeley Park was their fourth win in a row, and came after a much-improved second-half display, with Ryan Giles crossing for the former Chelsea youngster to power in a fine header and give the visitors victory against League One opposition.
City are on the cusp of signing Trabzonspor duo John Lundstram and Enis Destan, while Akin Famewo has agreed a move to the MKM Stadium, and was left back at the club’s training ground to prepare for Tuesday night’s MKM Stadium showdown with Sunderland.
Jakirovic hopes all three are done in the near future to help add numbers, and quality, to his ranks despite the ongoing situation with the EFL and the club’s transfer restrictions.
“We’re working hard every day to bring in new players, but it’s a secret, I told you this at our first press conference,” the Bosnian said with a beaming smile in conversation with Hull Live. “I expect in the next two or three days, three players to join us.”
Lundstram is set to arrive on a permanent deal after negotiating his exit from the Super Lig club, and will provide valuable experience to the engine room, with the head coach admitting the squad is lacking a player of his type.
“I know him from Turkey, he’s a very good player,” he said of Lundstram. “I think that we don’t have such a profile right now in the team, and if he comes, that will be perfect for us.”
Attacker Destan is another arriving from Trabzonspor, with a possibility his move could also be permanent having initially been thought to be a loan deal.
“Like John, I know him from Turkey,” Jakirovic explained. “He’s one player who has a big potential. I believe his club doesn’t trust him one hundred percent, so he just needs an opportunity to play, but we will see what happens there.”
The other signing is ex-Sheffield Wednesday defender Akin Famewo, and Jakirovic says the 26-year-old has been back at Cottingham training while the squad were in Lancashire.
“Famewo is here with us. We left him at home to have two good training sessions because he didn’t play for a long time. He’s had some injuries, of course, but in my opinion, he’s a good player; he just needs to be healthy.
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