Hull City are closing in on a deal to sign 20-year-old defender Niccolò Fortini from Fiorentina, with hope a deal could be completed before the weekend opener against Manchester United.
The versatile defender, who can operate on the left or right side of defence or in midfield, came through the ranks at Fiorentina and made his debut for the Italian national team back in June.
Fortini is out of contract in Florence next summer, and City have moved to tie up an initial loan deal which would see him arrive at the MKM Stadium to boost Sergej Jakirovic’s defensive options, already increased by the big-money arrivals of Nobel Mendy and Lucas Herrington. The move can be made permanent next summer with the option to buy at around 9m euros.
The youngster played 16 times in Serie A last season, as well as making nine appearances in the UEFA Conference League, showing his versatility by operating on the right side of midfield, as well as the left. In total, he turned out 26 times for the Italian giants last term.
He missed a spell of last season with a back issue, which saw him sidelined for Fiorentina’s Conference League quarter-final defeat to Crystal Palace, but returned to the squad for the final three games of the Serie A season. Earlier this summer, he was linked with a move to Bournemouth.
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City have so far signed 11 players ahead of their return to the top-flight, and in addition to Fortini, as many as six more are expected in the final two weeks of the transfer window.
The Tigers are working on bringing in another goalkeeper, midfielder, winger and at least two more forwards to bolster Jakirovic’s ranks, and it’s understood they are interested in Keito Nakamura.
The Japanese international is a left winger who plies his trade in the French second tier with Stade Reims. Following their relegation from Ligue 1 last season, it’s thought he has been made available for transfer. In 97 games for Reims, he’s scored 30 times and collected seven assists. The 26-year-old scored a goal and notched an assist in this summer’s World Cup, but as it stands, the two clubs are seemingly some distance away in their respective valuations.
Teenage defender Cathal McCarthy will be moving out on loan, with the 19-year-old defender joining Kilmarnock on loan for the duration of the season.
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