Hull City have until Saturday to make decisions on their five out of contract players as the focus switches to next season.
One of those is Joao Pedro, the one-time Italian striker who ended the season as City’s leading marksman with six goals after arriving on a free transfer in September.
Pedro signed a one-year deal at the MKM Stadium when he joined alongside fellow freebie Steven Alzate, with City having the option of a 12-month extension. But Hull Live understands the 33-year-old veteran is expected to leave the club after deciding to move on after just one season in English football.
City‘s experienced forward played 35 times in the Championship, claiming two assists to go with his half-dozen of goals. The last of his strikes came early on at Bristol City when he turned his man superbly before slotting in the back of the net. Unfortunately for him and the Tigers, he was sent off 90 seconds later for a rash challenge, which saw him banned for three games.
He missed the win over Oxford United, a draw at West Brom and a home defeat to Luton Town before returning after almost a month out after the March international break at Sheffield Wednesday.
The forward’s decision to move on from City will leave the Tigers with just Mason Burstow and Kyle Joseph as their frontline strikers until a replacement is brought in.
Signing firepower is the key this summer after City finished the campaign with just 44 goals, the lowest of anybody in the Championship.
Other decisions facing City before Saturday’s deadline include whether to activate 12-month options on the expiring deals of Dogukan Sinik, Callum Jones and Brandon Fleming. It’s expected all three will leave the club along with Nordin Amrabat, who signed a short-term contract at the MKM Stadium in January after leaving AEK Athens. He went on to make 10 appearances, with his sole assist coming for Abu Kamara’s crucial equaliser against Coventry City on April 14.