Hull City are still looking to get more players in before the transfer window closes
Hull City have two weeks to until the summer transfer window closes, and there remains plenty to be decided before 7pm on September 1.
The Tigers have brought in 11 players despite the club operating under strict transfer rules imposed on them by the EFL. Ten days on from their appeal hearing against a three-window fee restriction imposed on them, City have not yet heard the outcome.
While they’re limited in what they can, and can’t do, it’s still likely to be a fascinating final couple of weeks as we head to towards a crucial point in the campaign.
With two weeks to go until the window closes, here’s a look at where things stand…
Where are we at?
In truth, City aren’t in bad shape considering. They’re much stronger than they were at full-time against Portsmouth on the final day of last season, and that has shown in their opening two games, which have seen them collect four points from six.
As we always say, the easy way to assess a window is to answer a simple question: Are you stronger at the end than you were at the start?
And if the window was to close tomorrow, the answer is unequivocally yes. There’s still gaps to fill, but to have signed 11 players despite working under the restrictions, is a big positive even if there are question marks surrounding them.
The likes of Oli McBurnie and John Lundstram are very good signings at this level, as is Semi Ajayi and Akin Famewo. The concern with the last two was their injury record, and we’ve seen that come back to bite with Ajayi‘s hamstring problem, but you hope over the course of the season those two will come good.
What needs to be done?
Missing out on Toby Collyer was a disappointment, but in truth, he probably wasn’t going to play every week. The Tigers still want to find somebody in that area and have two or three solid options in the number six/eight role. There’s also a desire to bring in another attacking player, with Jakirovic keen to strengthen his wide options. That was apparent before we broke the news that Getafe wanted Abu Kamara.
That’s likely to happen in the next few days, but his exit will free up space to bring somebody else in. Ideally, another forward would be nice, though that’s unlikely, and with McBurnie, Joe Gelhardt, Kyle Joseph and Enis Destan, they’ll hope will be the ones to plunder the goals needed.
Gelhardt and McBurnie’s strikes on Sunday in the win over Oxford United is a good start. McBurnie has two in two if you count the Wrexham game, so him hitting the ground running already is a huge boost for a team that found goals so hard to come by last term.
Given that Jakirovic was keen to bring in Matiga Frigan, it’s obvious he wants more firepower, and while it’s unlikely, it can’t be ruled out in the final days.
Mohamed Belloumi’s imminent return is a major boost, and City will hope he comes through with no issues or flare-ups because he will be the proverbial new signing. Liam Millar isn’t too far off, but won’t feature until after the international break next month.
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What will be done?
Well, it’s the classic domino effect. Because the Tigers are working under a business plan, everything they do has to be agreed with the EFL’s financial reporting unit.
The Tigers must let players go in order to bring players in. Next out of the door is likely to be Kamara, and that will free up a space to add to their squad with a midfielder close.
Bringing in the finance will also help, naturally. There are also question marks around Ivor Pandur and Charlie Hughes. Both have been the subject of interest throughout the summer, and it will be interesting to see what happens over the next two weeks. The club don’t want to sell, but ultimately, as with anything, money talks.
There’s also the optics of selling those two, especially Hughes, who has become a hugely important figure this summer as captain in the absence of Lewie Coyle. There’s a growing sense of positivity around the fans and club despite the off-field issues over the summer, so letting those move on would not be popular.
What happens with those two, if anything, will determine what the club decide to do next because clearly, they would have to be replaced if that interest turned into bids that would give Acun Ilicali a major decision to make.
The big issue is the fact that they cannot spend money unless their restrictions are lifted.. Pandur and Hughes could go for £100m, but City couldn’t go out and buy replacements; they’d be restricted to loans and frees, so that would have to be factored in to any decision.
How are the restrictions impacting?
To their credit, City have done some brilliant work to bring in the level of quality that they have either on free transfers or loans without having to pay a fee. Equally, it’s seen them miss out on as many as five players to other clubs, and that number could yet rise before the window closes.
The fact that the hearing was 10 days ago and they’ve still not been made aware of the outcome is poor, so until told otherwise, City have to keep working under those conditions that they have been.
That’s all they can, and will continue to do. The wait, however, doesn’t do anybody any favours, so it just needs to get done so everybody can move on, knowing full well what they’re dealing with.
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