City are set to take their summer tally of new signings to 11
Hull City are edging closer to completing two more signings to add to a growing list of summer recruits despite working under strict transfer conditions this summer, while Sergej Jakirovic says everything is perfect with Ivor Pandur despite growing interest.
Brandon Williams was in London on Monday to complete his medical after accepting a two-year deal with the option of a third, while David Akintola trained with the rest of the squad prior to their departure for North Wales for Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup tie at Championship newboys Wrexham.
Neither deal has yet been rubber-stamped and received approval from the EFL under the conditions City are working within so neither Williams or Akintola will be involved at the Racecourse as the Tigers look to make it past round one of the League Cup for the first time in five years.
“Brandon had his medical today (Monday) in London, and Akintola has trained with us, but he is not yet registered, so we are waiting,” Jakirovic told Hull Live. “I think it’s the permission for him, but we’re waiting.”
After a challenging period in his life, the Bosnian has handed Williams a fresh chance. Williams will look to get his career back on track in the Championship, nearly two years after his last second-tier outing.
“He’s very satisfied here,” Jakirovic said of the ex-Manchester United youngster. “I’m satisfied with him because he trained very hard and, like I’ve said to you before, it’s a second chance for him and he’s aware of that. I think he can help us in both full-back positions, and that’s it.
“Of course (he’s a high-quality player), but he is also aware that this is a new beginning for him because he didn’t play for one and a half years. This is a very long period in football, but he has a strong will to get back again.”
Williams enjoyed short cameos in the two friendly encounters with Sunderland and Getafe prior to the season starting, and Jakirovic says his fitness is improving, although patience is the key after such a long period without a game.
“He’s at fifty per cent now, I think fifty per cent, but you’re seeing some movements, some passing. His view of football is quality, and this is like he had before on that level in the Premier League.
“I’m excited with every one of my players because they are a very nice group. A very hard-working group, so I’m very satisfied with what we have now. We have almost completed 99 per cent of our roster, so we can just be better.”
Jakirovic also reiterated his determination to keep goalkeeper Ivor Pandur at the club beyond the end of the summer window on September 1. Middlesbrough are the latest potential suitor of the Croatian stopper, but Hull Live has been told no formal bid has yet been made, and the club would quite like to keep it that way.
“Ivor is our first goalkeeper and he’s with us. We’re speaking about a new contract as well. I heard about some interest from other clubs. An official offer has not come, so this is just rumours, but it will be like this until 1 September 7 at pm; it’s always the same.
“He’s very satisfied here. Especially when we arrived, because we are from the same country, we can speak in our language some times about bad things,” he joked. No, he’s very satisfied and he enjoys being here, so everything is perfect.”
The club, meanwhile, are still awaiting the outcome of their appeal against a three-window ban which has had a huge impact on their summer business. At the time of writing, the independent panel had not revealed the outcome of last Wednesday’s four-hour appeal hearing.
It was expected City would be notified within 48 hours, but that timescale was moved to give the panel more time to consider the cases put forward by both sides.
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