Just two weeks remain for Hull City to provide Sergej Jakirovic with a squad capable of challenging in the Premier League over the next nine months.
So far 11 players have arrived and before the transfer window closes on September 1, as many as seven could still walk through the big black gates at the club’s Cottingham training ground.
For any club in any summer that would be a remarkable turnaround in players, but when you factor in that it’s from a squad that claimed promotion at Wembley, it makes it all the more incredible.
Despite 11 new arrivals, albeit four of which are injured and will miss the start of the season, City still have gaping holes in their squad both out wide and up front.
The departures of Enis Destan and Kyle Joseph mean Oli McBurnie is the only senior forward left at the club, but the club are looking at adding two more in that area of the pitch to support the Scotsman.
City have thrown admiring glances towards former loan star Liam Delap this summer, but the financial package it would take to sign the Chelsea striker is obscene, and that will not be happening. Chelsea want £40m as a minimum, and his salary is understood to be in excess of £100,000 per week.
Those figures alone take the Tigers, however ambitious they may well be, completely out of the conversation, and rightly so, because as talented as Delap is, the financial outlay just isn’t worth it.
Leon Bailey, Mohamed Ali-Cho and Kevin Danois have all been close to securing moves to the MKM Stadium, but City, at this stage, have moved on from those three. Marco Pasalic, the Orlando City forward, is another who was a firm target earlier in the window, though he isn’t any more.
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Before the window closes, another goalkeeper to cover for the stricken Jack Butland will come in, as will a winger and two strikers. Another Premier League midfielder is set to join, on loan, and there will be a right-back. Jakirovic wants more pace in his side, and that’s something high on the agenda.
Torino right-back Marcus Pedersen is atop the list of right-backs, with City already lodging a bid for the Norwegian, and they remain keen to get that deal done. If that should fail, there are two other options, including one from Spain. Cody Drameh continues to attract interest, but it’s expected he will remain at the club.
Deportivo La Coruna playmaker Yeremay Hernandez remains a live target, and the Tigers remain in discussions with the Spanish side over that deal. Sources indicate that while the deal is difficult, they remain hopeful.
Going the other way, Cathal McCarthy is set to leave on loan, and it’s likely David Akintola will also be moved on as he looks to secure regular football.
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