The young midfielder has played four times so far for Slovenian outfit Maribor
Oscar Zambrano was a regular for the Ecuador Under-20 side and had been called into the senior squad before his year-long ban(Image: Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images))
Hull City will not be bringing Oscar Zambrano back to the MKM Stadium before the transfer window closes on February 2, according to Acun Ilicali.
Ilicali, though, has hinted that the midfielder could return to East Yorkshire in the summer. That option may well depend on what league the Tigers find themselves in, with Sergej Jakirovic’s side firmly entrenched in a battle for promotion.
Zambrano is back playing for Maribor in Slovenia, a club also owned by Ilicali, after his doping ban came to an end back in November. Despite his exit, there is a growing expectation he will come back to City at some point in the future.
“No, he won’t be coming here in January,” Ilicali told Hull Live. “Zambrano is a good boy and he needs much more time at Maribor to get his fitness and rhythm. I think he will be a fantastic signing for us at some point in the future, probably in the summer.”
The 21-year-old was viewed as the next Moises Caicedo when he broke through at LDU Quito and had been tracked by a host of English and European clubs before City signed him on loan last summer.
He arrived with a doping ban hanging over his head and on November 5, 2024, was handed a 16-month ban by officials in South America, before that was reduced to 12 on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
During his short spell at the MKM Stadium, Zambrano made eight league appearances under Tim Walter, with his solitary goal coming in the 4-1 win over Cardiff City in September.
City expect to announce the signing of Toby Collyer in the next few days as Sergej Jakirovic looks to bolster his midfield ranks, especially after losing Darko Gyabi for at least 12 weeks with a groin injury, with the Manchester United player expected at the MKM Stadium when the Tigers host Swansea City on Saturday.
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