The young midfielder appeared to be the club’s first summer signing
Hull City are unlikely to be able to get a deal over the line that would see Reda Laalaoui registered to play in the Championship when it returns after the international break, with the saga set to continue.
The Tigers thought they’d signed the 20-year-old way back in mid-June from Fath Union Sport in Morocco for a fee in the region of £400,000, but that deal was not sanctioned by the EFL following the restrictions that were placed on the Tigers at the start of July.
Since then, club bosses have been in extensive discussions with the league in a bid to find a way forward for the player who has remained at the club throughout the summer, despite the ongoing uncertainty about what the future holds.
It now appears City will not be able to restructure their deal with Fath Union before Monday’s 7pm transfer deadline, and therefore, Laalaoui will not be able to play for the Championship club until January at the earliest.
It is understood City are now exploring other options as to how they can move forward in the hope of getting the deal done later in the season for a player they value highly and feel has potential.
The club found themselves in a similar situation with Gustavo Puerta, despite believing they had bought the Colombian midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen when he played against Swansea City on Good Friday to activate their obligation to buy.
City hoped that the deal would be signed off by the EFL, which would in turn have allowed the Tigers to sell him this summer; however, it was rejected, and he returned to Germany after the appeal verdict landed, effectively at the end of his loan.
Elsewhere, the Tigers are closing in on the signing of Leeds United midfielder Darko Gyabi on what Hull Live understands is expected to be a permanent deal from the West Yorkshire.
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