The Tigers remain determined to keep hold of their prized asset
Head coach Sergej Jakirovic remains confident Hull City can keep Charlie Hughes at the MKM Stadium for the remainder of the month, and joked not even a beer with Frank Lampard could change his mind.
Jakirovic oversaw Hughes deliver a terrific display against Lampard, who is a keen admirer of the 21-year-old talismanic defender, during Saturday’s goalless draw at the CBS Arena as both sides opened their Championship campaign with a point.
Coventry have already seen two bids rejected by City, with the Tigers having no intention of selling to their Championship rivals and remaining determined to keep Hughes at the club at least for the season.
The Bosnian had suggested before the game that Coventry had lodged a couple of unsuccessful bids to try and unsettle Hughes, but if that was the plan, it certainly didn’t work given how well he played alongside Semi Ajayi in the heart of the back four.
“What I said in the press conference the other day, £7m, it’s nothing,” Jakirovic told Hull Live. “So my opinion, anything below his value we don’t need to speak at all. I will not even pick up the phone because he’s very good, and for me, his next move is to the Premier League, not the Championship.
“He’s already in the Championship because he shows in every training session, every game, and what you watched today, he was always one of the top three players on the pitch. So he has a very big value for us.
“If we sell him, OK, we have John Egan, (Akin) Famewo, but for me, he’s a very, very good player. He’s a leader. You can see that straight away, he was born with this characteristic.”City’s jovial head coach said Lampard had invited him to his office for a post-match beer, and that he intended to go and enjoy one with him before heading back to East Yorkshire to prepare for Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup tie at Wrexham, though he joked that he would not entertain Lampard trying to get a deal done over a cold one.
“Just briefly before the game, and now he invited me for a beer, so I will go to him,” he said of the Chelsea legend. “No, no, he will stay with us. Frank already has two good defenders, so he doesn’t need him.”While Coventry have seen their £4m and £7m bids rejected, Sheffield United have shown interest, while City are primed for more interest before the window closes, though Jakirovic is unsure if a further offer will arrive from the Sky Blues.
“I don’t know. Maybe. The sporting director (Jared Dublin) will tell me, but I have my own opinion, and I already spoke about it, but for now, I think no. We will see. I can’t wait until this transfer period is finished. First of September, 7pm, please come. It’s too long a period.”
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