Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic still expects the club to be busy in the transfer market as it heads towards what looks like being a frantic final week of trading.
City have so far signed 11 players since promotion to the Premier League, and it’s expected another flurry will arrive before the deadline on Tuesday week.
No fresh faces have joined in the days building up to Saturday’s season opener with Manchester United at the MKM Stadium, but the club are hopeful more additions won’t be too far away, especially as Jakirovic has just one senior striker in Oli McBurnie available.
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A deal to bring Real Betis winger Pablo Garcia is close, but the 20-year-old trained with the Spanish club on Thursday as the finer points of his move to England are ironed out. Yeremay Hernández is back in training with Deportivo La Coruna, and despite visiting Hull earlier this week, no agreement has been struck.
Talks were held with Nottingham Forest over Dilane Bakwa, but that deal didn’t materialise, while moves for defenders Niccolò Fortini and Marcus Pedersen have not come to pass, despite both being close at different stages of the week.
“I’m expecting three or four more players,” Jakirovic said. “We brought some players, they are good players, potential players (players with potential), but also I’m aware that they need more time to adapt, to get togetherness, to get chemistry with the team.
“Our recruitment team, together with Mr Chairman (Acun Ilicali), is working on a lot of new players. There are some positions where we still need more players, and also for the competition for these positions.”
More than 100 players have been linked with a move to the MKM Stadium, and while many have been nothing more than rumour, Jakirovic admits his head has been blown by the number of names thrust his way since promotion.
“Sometimes my head is so, so big (with different names),” he continued. “I think we are connected (linked) with 100 players. All these rumours and gossip, it will not be professional for me to comment on all these rumours. Until the player comes here and signs the contract, I cannot comment on this.
“We are trying to add some quality to our team, and I hope we will do this before the end of this transfer window. Why should I comment on these players? They are not our players.”
The Croatian suggested after the final friendly of the summer against Nice that, following the departure of Enis Destan and injury to Joe Gelhardt, a striker arrival, or two, wasn’t far away. A week on, that situation hasn’t yet changed, but Jakirovic says work continues to be done behind the scenes. “We are working on that also, two wingers as well, so we are trying to bring somebody in. Today, today is the best,” he added when asked how soon he wants those attacking players.
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