Hull City’s squad for the Premier League could be boosted by as many as seven new arrivals, if their transfer plans come to fruition over the next week.
City hope to wrap up a deal for Leon Bailey over the next couple of days, and were boosted in their hopes of getting that permanent move over the line after the Jamaican international was left out of Aston Villa’s pre-season tour to Indonesia.
Villa and the Tigers are in the final stages of agreeing terms over a switch that would see the forward sign a long-term contract in East Yorkshire.
As reported by Hull Live over the weekend, Olympiacos goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis has agreed a four-year deal with a 12-month option. It’s hoped that after thrashing out the finer details of the deal with Olympiacos, he could arrive in Istanbul in the next 24 hours, albeit later than originally hoped.
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Tzolakis has completed his medical and is awaiting the green light from the Greek giants to finalise his move to MKM Stadium for what would eventually be a club-record deal, surpassing the £13.2m the club paid to sign Ryan Mason from Tottenham a decade ago.
Elliot Stroud could yet play again for Mjällby AIF, but sources hope his long-drawn-out move can finally get signed off in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Florentino Luis’ switch from Burnley will likely happen after August 1, once a clause in his contract becomes active, allowing him to move on loan.
City are also in talks over a move for Mert Kömür, the Augsburg midfielder. It’s thought discussions with the Bundesliga club are underway for the German Under-21 international, and a deal is viewed as likely.
The Tigers, who play their third pre-season game of the summer in Istanbul against Kasimpasa on Saturday, are also close to striking a £15m-plus deal for Nobel Mendy. The left-sided Senegalese central defender plies his trade in Spain with La Liga outfit Rayo Vallecano.
Hull Live understands the 21-year-old has made it clear his preference is to join the newly-promoted Tigers, if a deal can be struck and there’s growing confidence at the MKM Stadium that they’re not too far away.
Another deal the Tigers are working on is Tromso central midfielder Jens Hjertø-Dahl. The 20-year-old is highly regarded in Norway, having played for the country’s Under-21s. Rangers and Cardiff City have both been linked with a move, with reports suggesting his club wants in the region of £8m.
It’s believed City will be keeping tabs on his display against Hradec Králové in the second leg of Tromso’s Europa League qualifier on Thursday evening in Czechia.
Benfica striker Franjo Ivanović is another player who may well end up at the MKM Stadium. A prime target of Sergej Jakirovic, the 22-year-old Croatian striker could see his move to the MKM Stadium gather pace in the next couple of days. The Tigers are in direct contact with the Lisbon giants over concluding a permanent move.
Going the other way, Mason Burstow’s season-loan move to Sheffield Wednesday is nearing completion after he flew back to England on Wednesday, as did Nathan Tinsdale. Hull Live understands Tinsdale will join League Two side Crawley Town on loan.
There are also expected to be more departures on loan in the coming days, following on from Burstow and Tinsdale, with the club keen to get as much EFL experience into their youngsters as possible this season.
Portsmouth, meanwhile, continue to push hard to sign Abu Kamara. Talks with Pompey continue, but the winger could yet end up at Charlton Athletic, as Hull Live reported last week. The Addicks are also in talks with City over a move for the London-born 23-year-old.
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