Konstantinos Tzolakis will arrive at Hull City from Olympiacos in what will be a new club record deal for the Tigers, and bring an end to their summer search, which has taken them across Europe.
Tzolakis’ move could see City pay around £20m for the highly-rated Greek international, but his arrival sparks a fascinating debate around the number one jersey, and one that will play out in front of our eyes over the next few weeks and months as the East Yorkshire club get to grips with life back in England’s elite.
City spent £3m on Jack Butland earlier this summer, with the experienced former England goalkeeper leaving Rangers, where he had established himself as their number one and played in Europe year after year.
Let’s be right, City haven’t spent £3m on a player for two years, so while that may seem a fairly low amount by Premier League standards, for the Tigers, it’s quite some outlay, and for Butland, he won’t want to play second fiddle, and nor should he.
Make no mistake about it, but Butland is a top-class goalkeeper. You don’t play for England if you’re average, and he’s played an awful lot of games at the highest level, so his signing probably deserved more respect than some may have afforded it. He’s had a brilliant career, and at his age, he can be considered in his prime by goalkeeping standards.
During pre-season so far, the 33-year-old has shown his quality. In the win over Rizespor, Butland made two or three outstanding stops to preserve the Tigers’ second successive victory. As poor as Konyaspor were last weekend, he was alert to make a fine stop at a crucial point in the game. He’s been an excellent addition to the group.
His barking of orders to those in front of him is also noticeable, and that level of experience is going to be absolutely crucial over the coming weeks. He’s a big-game player, and the more of those at the manager’s disposal, the better.
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In his leaving interview, Ivor Pandur made it clear he had been told by the club that they were seeking to sign a number one, a player with Premier League experience. That’s Butland, not Tzolakis!
However, the Greek international has played at the top level, in the Champions League, and for his country, and the outlay on him suggests he will be Sergej Jakirovic’s first choice.
Others were looked at this summer. Manchester United’s Radek Vítek, who impressed on loan with Bristol City, is admired, and so, too, SC Braga’s Lukáš Horníček, before all the eggs were placed in Tzolakis’ basket, and they’ve worked hard to get him.
Dealing with Evangelos Marinakis isn’t for the faint-hearted, but in Acun Ilicali, he’s probably met his match, and after a move that has swayed this way and that, they’ve finally got the Greek shipping magnate’s seal of approval after Stefan Orgtega made his move to Piraeus.
That switch of the ex-Manchester City and Nottingham Forest stopper released Tzolakis to complete his move and tick off the goalkeeping department box. It is a coup, albeit one that has cost them a pretty penny and a sizeable chunk of their transfer budget.
You wouldn’t expect City to part with the best part of £20m over the duration of his four-year deal (potentially five with his option year) for him to come and sit on the bench. He’ll expect to come in and play.
Butland, however, will have something to say about that. He’s not going to want to drop down from Scotland and be number two at Hull City, which presents Jakirovic with a wonderful problem to have.
He will be in the enviable position of having two top-quality goalkeepers, pushing each other, to become his number one and earn that Premier League shirt.
Butland will relish the challenge of fighting Tzolakis to get that shirt for the visit of Manchester United on August 22. Jakirovic will make it a fair fight, and it will be a case of he who dares, wins. For City, that’s exactly what you want and need. Two top players are battling it out for the starting berth.
The challenge for Acun Ilicali and those working with him in the recruitment team is to replicate that level of competition in every other position across the pitch, and if they can do that, then City might not be the whipping boys so many have decided they will be this season.
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