The Tigers go into the window firmly in the race for promotion to the Premier League
The winter transfer window will throw open its doors on Thursday and for Hull City, it’s a period where they’ll look to strengthen their hand in the race for promotion, albeit with two hands tied behind their back.
Monday night’s impressive win at rivals Middlesbrough saw City cement fourth place in the Championship, but crucially, move to within two points of the Teessiders, who occupy the final automatic promotion berth.
City have won 12 of their 24 games so far, with only runaway leaders Coventry having won more and the Tigers head into their New Year’s Day tussle with Stoke City, the league’s form team with four wins and a draw in their last five.
As they did in the summer, City will be forced to work under strict restrictions imposed on them by the EFL, meaning the Tigers can only sign players on free transfers and loans, where there is no fee involved and relying on the goodwill from other clubs to get deals over the line.
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Despite those tough conditions, City were still able to enjoy a summer window where they signed the likes of Oli McBurnie, Joe Gelhardt, Semi Ajayi and John Lundstram, as well as Monday night’s matchwinner Darko Gyabi.
The Tigers hope to bring in at least three new faces before the 7pm deadline on February 2 but that will depend on players being moved out owing to the conditions of their agreement with the EFL.
Boss Sergej Jakirovic wants another goalkeeper to challenge Ivor Pandur and that looks like being Seny Dieng, the experienced Boro stopper.
While Dieng is vastly experienced in the Championship, his likely arrival does not signal that Pandur will be sold this month, despite Acun Ilicali’s admission that cash does need to be raised before July 1 to avoid falling foul of financial fair play (FFP) rules.
Another area for additions is in the final third, with the club keen to add another attack-minded player. Kieran Dowell, the former Everton youngster, is a player on their radar and could make a move to the MKM Stadium.
Dowell is out of contract at Rangers in the summer and is expected to be allowed to move on during the window as Danny Rohl gets his first chance to shape his Ibrox squad. It’s understood that the 28-year-old favours a move to the MKM Stadium.
City would also like to add further defensive cover, though that could well be dependent on Charlie Hughes’ future being resolved. While the club are not actively looking to sell Hughes, having turned down a flurry of bids from Coventry City in the summer, there’s an acceptance that there will be more interest in January and then a decision would have to be made. It’s thought the club do have contingency plans in place, should any significant offers come in for Hughes or Pandur.
Ryan Giles’ hamstring injury is not expected to change their plans, with Jakirovic likely to try and find cover during his absence using the existing players at his disposal. Matty Jacob is back from his loan spell at Reading, though he’s currently recovering from a knee injury, while James Furlong is in the fold as he awaits his first Championship appearance since joining more than two years ago.
Key to bringing in new faces will be moving players out and that could see Cody Drameh and David Akintola move on. Drameh is unhappy with his lack of gametime, while winger Akintola has also struggled to make much of an impact despite scoring the winner against Sheffield United.
Kasey Palmer attracted interest in the summer and had fallen out of favour before picking up an injury, but made his first appearance since late September off the bench at Boro. Should Dowell arrive, then you’d expect Palmer to find his opportunities further limited.
Brandon Williams has struggled to make an impact since being given a contract in the summer and with City’s need for numbers and players who can impact now, coupled with their squad restrictions, it’s likely the ex-Manchester United youngster will be allowed to leave in a bid to try and find football elsewhere.
City are relaxed about Joe Gelhardt’s situation. The 10-goal forward remains sidelined with a calf injury and isn’t expected back until the middle of the month. As it stands, Leeds United have no plans to exercise their clause to recall him in the early days of January.
The Tigers are also set to welcome back Eliot Matazo from an ACL injury towards the end of January, possibly early February, so the need to add in midfield is unlikely at this stage, though that may well change as the month develops. Oscar Zambrano could come back but that’s not expected to be this winter, and more likely in the summer if indeed it does happen.
And given Acun Ilicali’s liking for a bit of transfer window fun and games, you wouldn’t rule out a surprise before the window shuts at the beginning of February.
Given their restrictions, arguably their biggest success in the window would be keeping their squad together and then welcoming back those key injured players and avoiding any more major fitness setbacks.
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