EXCLUSIVE: The Tigers owner has opened up on the club’s transfer plans for the January window
Owner Acun Ilicali says Hull City will be careful with their additions in the January transfer window as the club continues to grapple with financial fair play (FFP) and the ongoing EFL restrictions.
As was the case in the summer, City will not be able to pay transfer or loan fees for any player during the winter window, which closes at 7pm on February 2, while financially, the Tigers sit on the cusp of their spending limits within FFP.
Despite that, however, the Tigers enjoyed a stellar summer transfer period with some key arrivals that have played a major role in helping Sergej Jakirovic’s side sit fourth in the Championship, just two points off the top two after Monday night’s impressive win at rivals Middlesbrough.
Speaking to Hull Live about what fans can expect over the next month, Ilicali believes a couple of new arrivals are needed but admits those will be dependent on players leaving first.
Cody Drameh and David Akintola could be moved on to allow space to be freed up in the senior squad, with the Tigers looking to bring in more cover across the pitch, particularly in goal to challenge Ivor Pandur and in the final third of the pitch. Middlesbrough goalkeeper Seny Dieng is closing in on a move to the MKM Stadium, though he would provide competition for Pandur rather than be a replacement.
Rangers attacker Kieran Dowell is another player the club has admired for some time and City believe they have a chance of getting him out of Ibrox this month.
“I explained to our fans when we had a meeting last week that I’m completely satisfied with the team,” Ilicali said. “Yes, we will make some touches, this is true. The thing is, if we bring in players on loan who will not play, then you will have a problem with his team and himself together.
“So, if a big team just gives their boy to us and he doesn’t start the games, then they will be disappointed. Our problem at the moment, let me count a team like Liam Millar, Oli McBurnie and Mo Belloumi, before his injury, how can we leave one of them out? If you then add Joe Gelhardt when he comes back, there are the starting positions.
“Then it comes to our other boys, that we are all happy when they start the game, and then we have Eliot Matazo coming back soon. When you have Matazo, Crooksy, John Lundstram, Amir, Darko, Regan, yes, maybe you can add one more, I agree. He cannot be on loan from a big team because it’s unlikely he would play. Is it easy to break into our first team when our players are fit? No, it is not.
“Do we need some new additions? Yes, I think we need two new arrivals. I completely believe that we did fantastic recruitment in the past, and I’m proud of these boys. I see how strong we are with our team at the moment, fighting all for one and one for all.”
Jakirovic has created a terrific team spirit, epitomised by the battling performance to win at Boro and extend their unbeaten run to five games and Ilicali says he will not risk upsetting that balance for the sake of it.
“If I can bring in a player that would improve us only by ten per cent, would I risk my boys’ harmony? No, I will not,” he continued. “I’m brave, always I’m brave, and I take risks, but, in English, the saying don’t fix it if it’s not broken is perfect, and I learned that from an English friend, and I like it very much.
“There will be additions, but not like we did last year or last summer. If you ask me, we need two players if nobody goes. We have to move on one or two players by ourselves. If a surprise thing happens and we lose one of the important players, then this is a different story. Then we have to bring somebody in to replace him for sure. If we lose somebody from the starting XI, then one big transfer is needed; otherwise, two clever transfers are enough, I think.”
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