‘Complete’ – Hull City owner Acun Ilicali says club record transfer deal is done

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The City chief says a breakthrough has been made and their number one goalkeeping target is arriving

Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has confirmed Konstantinos Tzolakis’ move to Hull City has been completed, as he delivered a transfer update in Istanbul.

Speaking to the media at the Tigers’ Grand Tarabya Hotel in Istanbul, Ilicali, along with Sergej Jakirovic, Lewie Coyle and Oli McBurnie, fielded questions on a host of topics, largely transfers.

Ilicali confirmed that Tzolakis was due in Istanbul on Thursday evening to sign his four-year contract to seal what would be a club record transfer deal, while also saying an agreement with Spanish side Rayo Vallecano for defender Nobel Mendy was on the verge of being done.

It was reported on Thursday that Mendy had refused to train with Rayo, in a bid to push through his move to the MKM Stadium, but he says that’s not true.

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While the Tigers are also in talks with a host of other players, he did say Elliot Stroud could yet play again for Mjällby AIF before completing his move to the MKM Stadium.

Here’s a recap of the key points from the press conference

• Contract talks for Sergej Jakirovic are ongoing with both parties largely in agreement, and just discussing finer details
• Confirms Tzolakis expected in Istanbul this evening (Thursday). ‘I can say it is complete’, he adds
• Goes on to say the Nobel Mendy deal is close and the same with Leon Bailey. And refutes claims that Mendy has refused to train with Rayo Vallecano in a bid to push through his move to the Tigers
• Expects Leon Bailey’s move from Aston Villa to be completed in the next two to three days
• Ilicali also confirms that Elliot Stroud could yet play another game for his Swedish club, though says he’s relaxed about the situation with Ryan Giles and Matt Targett on the left side
• Claims the Tigers will add one ‘worldwide star’ to the group before the transfer window closes
• “We will put one worldwide star in the middle, and that will finish our transfers”
• Tells fans to expect another social media transfer update
• Other deals are being worked on, keen not to rush and get the wrong players, but understands the need to get them over the line
• No plans to bring any players in from Turkey, while Sergej Jakirovic says there are a couple of players he likes in the Super Lig, but would not mention them by name for fear of creating a ‘media circus’

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