Hull City have pulled the plug on their protracted deal to sign Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey after becoming increasingly frustrated with how the transfer has progressed.
City were expecting the Jamaican international to arrive on Monday with the deal ready to be announced, but issues are understood to have arisen once again, which do not involve the Tigers.
Boss Sergej Jakirovic, speaking in Frankfurt on Saturday, expected Bailey to sign for the club, a week on from admitting he thought it was off. But it now appears the 28-year-old will remain at Villa Park for the time being at least.
Sources have indicated that City have become increasingly frustrated with the length of time the move has taken and the moving of goalposts. As a consequence, they have now pulled out. At this stage, it’s unlikely the move can be resurrected, with the Tigers moving on to other players and their respective camps keen to be part of their Premier League campaign.
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One of those is Yeremay Hernández, the highly rated Deportivo La Coruna winger. City have lodged a significant bid, but face competition from Sporting Lisbon, though they remain positive about being able to push through what would be an eye-catching deal for the 23-year-old left winger. Borussia Dortmund were watching the wideman, though it’s thought he’s keen to come to England.
City have also seen a succession of bids rejected for Mert Kömür by German side Augsburg, though, as with Hernandez, they remain confident of eventually snapping up the Germany Under-21 international once a fee can be agreed. That fee is likely to be in the region of £12m.
Though the Tigers have currently pulled out of a deal for Nice winger Mohamed Ali-Cho, the deal could yet happen in the final days of the window.
Both Nobel Mendy and Lucas Herrington’s moves to the MKM Stadium are expected to be confirmed imminently, with the pair set to train on Thursday and be involved against Nice this weekend. The club are also working on signing Joe Gelhardt from Leeds United, and that may well be wrapped up in the near future, with a willingness from both clubs to get it completed as soon as possible.
The Tigers have also been linked with a host of other players, including Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope and Millwall winger Femi Azeez, who lined up against City in the Championship play-off semi-final.
Going the other way, Enis Destan has been told he can leave the club in search of regular football, and it’s likely he will return to the Turkish Super Lig.
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