It's another round-up of Hull City's weekly transfer activity. In short, there isn't any but read on anyway!
3rd July
The Sun on Sunday
say Spurs are willing to let 25-year-old midfielder Ryan Mason leave and City are interested in a £10m deal. Mason is a
good player but that’s a lot of money for him, even if a chunk of it will most
likely be incentive-based.
Meanwhile, according to the Daily Record, former City boss Phil Brown is in talks with former
City keeper Mark Oxley, of Hibs,
with a view to him replacing former City transfer target Daniel Bentley at Southend.
4th July
Dean Windass’s column in the Hull Daily Mail suggested free-agent Wales striker Hal Robson-Kanu would be a perfect
signing for City. It’s a view I share having suggested prior to their first
Euro 2016 game that he’d be an ideal foil for Abel Hernandez. He’s not a
prolific striker but he’s quick, strong, hard-working and versatile enough to
play anywhere along the front. I think he’d take the hard knocks allowing a player
like Abel to prosper. By close of play on Monday, it was being reported that
The Tigers are indeed one of the clubs who’ve made contact with Robson-Kanu’s
agent. Swansea and Leicester are also said to be interested.
5th July
The City players jetted of to Portugal for pre-season
training camp with a couple of new faces in the camp. Unfortunately for those
craving transfers, they were the faces of youngsters Jarrod Bowen and Greg Olley
who joined last year’s debutant Josh
Tymon for the trip. It is fantastic to see the young lads coming through
and timely as I’d just written this “Rough guide to the Hull City U21s”.
Journalist and Bundesliga expert Fernando Salceda tweeted that City are “in talks” with Augsburg’s Raul Bobadilla, mentioned last week. A
story from a rather naff source also suggested Chinese clubs are sniffing around
the bulky striker.
Southampton, Watford and Celtic are said to be intered in
Hal Robson-Kanu but only by ClubCall.
6th July
The usually reliable twitter account @TransferCentreL, which is linked to betting account @OddsChanger, suggested City have made Spurs
a £7m offer for Ryan Mason. I don’t
know what their source was for this story but it’s not come up from any of the
other usual routes such as Sky Sports, BBC and local media so I’d doubt its
authenticity in this instance.
French outlet Foot
Mercato run a story linking Chelsea’s Senagalese defender Papy Djilobodji with a move to City.
They also say Werder Bremen are interested in a deal for the 27-year-old who
spent the second half of last season on loan there. I’m led to believe that there
is plenty of truth in this rumour but that a move was “blocked” internally.
It’s back to @TransferCentreL
who report that City, Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday want WBA winger Callum McManaman. The 25-year-old scouser
joined Albion from Wigan for nearly £5m as Tony Pulis’s first signing but he’s
barely played and looks nothing like the feisty, exciting player he was at
Wigan.
West Ham are the latest club to be linked with ex-Tiger Robbie Brady. There were some rumblings
of a move back to Hull a few weeks ago but they were without foundation and
look ridiculous now.
7th July
The big news today is that the club have put a deadline
of July 11th on bids for buying the club. This is good news and
while my preference would be for the Allams to give themselves a free transfer
to a remote island off Cuba, any sort of stability would be most welcome.
Right-back Ryan
Taylor, released by City, is training with Rotherham. Exciting, eh?
Italian football website Gazzetta World, which seems to be deliberately named to draw some
credence from the iconic Italian newspaper Gazetta
dello Sport, claim Abel Hernandez’s
agent is in Milan to discuss a move to Sampdoria. This one smells bullshitty.
8th July
French journalist Manu Lonjon of Foot Mercato, who we’d never heard of three days ago, tweets that
City are in discussions with Bordeaux defender Lamine Sane. The Senagalese international is a huge centre half who
has been with Les Girondins for seven years and nearly joined Aston villa on
loan in January. He was then suspended by Bordeaux in February for a dressing
room punch-up with goalie Jerome Prior after a cup defeat to Nantes.
The Hull Daily Mail
report that City made contact with Hal
Robson-Kanu’s representatives last month but were told that he’d not be
making any decision until after Euro 2016. The club will now follow-up on that
initial move but the competition is fierce.
Former City forward Sone
Aluko has signed for Fulham after being released last month. It’s a good
move for him and at his best, he has the ability to light up the Championship.
He’s unfortunately infuriating a lot of the time too but I wish him well at
Craven Cottage.
A few months ago Steve Bruce expressed interest in
signing then-loanee Isaac Hayden permanently
from Arsenal. That talk quietened with Hayden’s limited involvement in our
promotion campaign but a few rumours did crop up recently, perhaps based on
those old comments. However, Sky Sports
today report that Hayden will join Newcastle United in the next day or two.
How well do you know the next generation of Hull City players?
The academy returned for pre-season training last week and thus far, the only transfer activity Steve Bruce has been engaging in has surrounded them too! So here's a short guide to the players we hope will save us millions by filling our black and amber shirts in the not-too-distant future.
Will Mannion – Goalkeeper – Age 18
A brand new signing from AFC Wimbledon for 2016/17. Will is a commanding
‘keeper whose reputation was enhanced last season by a call up to the England
U18 training squad and outstanding performances for the Wimbledon U18 side as
they knocked Premier League academies Watford and Newcastle out of the FA youth
Cup on their way to a 5th Round tie with Chelsea.
City will have to pay a fee for Mannion which will be decided by
Tribunal as the clubs could not agree to suitable compensation. He signed a
three year contract and will hope to eventually make a bigger impression in
City’s senior ranks than the last young goalkeeper we spent money on – Mark Oxley.
Rory Watson - Goalkeeper – Age 20
Rory is a tall and agile custodian who is from York, originally. He’ll
spend the 2016/17 season on loan at North Ferriby United. Their keepers from
last season, Adam Nicklin and Tom Nicholson, will not be staying with the club
due to work commitments and an offer from FC Halifax respectively, which should
ensure Rory gets a lot of first team football in the National
League. He’s a tremendous shot-stopper who has good hands and as his decision
making and kicking improves – he’s going to be a very good goalkeeper.
Rory’s departure means Jonathan Saltmer from the U18 will initially
back-up Mannion as Erik Bukran was released this summer.
Josh Clackstone – Right Back – Age 19
Josh is a versatile full-back who can play on either side and has been
known to cover in the centre too. He’s a determined defender who loves a tackle
and always shows responsibility in defence. He has a great attitude for the
game and is a leader amongst the youngsters. When he gets forward, he can be
effective as he puts in a nice cross but he needs to do that more consistently
given the requirement on full-backs to almost become wingers in the modern
game.
Adam
Curry – Central Defender – Age 19
Adam joined City from South Shields last November, just a few months after
he joined “The Mariners” from Seaham Red Star. He’s an imposing centre-half who
can also play left-back and is a real threat from set-pieces.
He hails from Jarrow – one of the breeding grounds for North-East
football on the South bank of the river Tyne. He’s good in the air and with
experience, his reading of the game will improve. The coaches at the academy
will also be working on his mobility and training every day professionally will
also help a lot.
Harvey Rodgers
– Central Defender – Age 19
Harvey is another North Yorkshire lad and has been in the City academy for
nine years. He’s instantly impactful as a player due to his shock of blonde
hair and his composure on the ball. He’s a “Rolls Royce” defender who plays out
beautifully from the back. He’s not fancy dan though, he’s strong in the
tackle, blocks bravely and is good in the air.
Liam Cooper and Sonny Bradley are centre halves who’ve come through the
academy in recent years and gone on to play league football and Harvey is definitely a lot
closer to Cooper’s level than Bradley’s.
Josh Tymon
– Left Back – Age 17
Josh is the poster-boy for the academy at the moment having broken into
the first team last season for the FA Cup games with Rochdale and Arsenal. Wining
an England U17 call-up capped a phenomenal season for him.
It came as no surprise to anyone who’d watched the U21’s at North
Ferriby’s Church Road last season. All were wowed by Josh’s powerful running
and whipped crosses as well as his composed defending. The fact he was only 16
at the time was remarkable.
Given his clear ability and the ease with which he took to senior
football – you’ll not be surprised to hear that scouts have watched him
regularly at U21 games. Some big names such as Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool are
said to be amongst those watching on with interest. City certainly need to get
him tied to a long-term deal as soon as he’s able to sign one at 18.
Will Annan – Winger – Age 19
Will is a name familiar to plenty of City fans after his fantastic goal
in the last minute of the Premier League Cup Final second leg against West Ham
secured a 1-0 City win and forced extra time in the tie.
He’s the most enigmatic player in the City youth ranks. He has bags of
ability, he can run at defenders, he can see an incisive pass and he’s a fine
finisher. Will is the sort of player people pay money to watch – he moves with
grace and when he gets the ball, you think something will happen.
On the flip side, he can drift out of games and he needs to develop his
strength for senior football. He’s got every chance to make it in the game
though. That may involve a spell or spells at unglamorous clubs, either on loan
or permanently, and he needs to show the determination to impress in every
game.
Ellis Barkworth
–Midfielder – Age 18
Ellis is a Hull lad who has just signed his first professional contract.
He’s played a part for the U21’s in both of the last two seasons and has filled
several different positions, including right-back. He’s an unfussy player who
is good in possession who will benefit from the opportunity to play week-in and
week-out against good quality opposition.
Daniel Batty
– Midfielder – Age 18
Daniel joined City at U16 after being released by Leeds United. He’s an
all-action midfielder who’ll do the dirty work all game long but takes care of
the ball too. He’s another versatile player who does whatever job needs doing. He’s
easy to spot on the pitch with his Jamie Vardy-esque soft cast on his hand and
wrist.
Dan is another first-year pro who has had plenty of U21 action already
but will only get better with the opportunity and responsibility playing every
game brings.
Max Clark – Midfielder – Age 20
Max is the U21 captain at City but is ready for senior football and
after a spell at Cambridge on loan last season, he’s returned to the Abbey
Stadium until January.
Max has long been touted as the next star through the ranks at City (I
say next but I can’t think who’d be the previous one!) and as a 16-year-old
left-back was in the young England set-up – like Josh Tymon. I think converting
him into a midfielder has stunted his development which is why we’ve not seen
too much of him around the first team before now.
Max has a fantastic engine, he’s got a winning attitude and is a
born-leader, and he hits a beautiful shot from distance. It’s easy to see why
someone thought he’d make a fine midfielder but he’s had to adapt to it. He can
be sloppy in possession at times and has to work hard at his positioning but he’s
going to be a pro-footballer somewhere. Guaranteed.
Robbie
McKenzie – Midfielder – Age 17
Robbie is a
good footballer who quietly goes about his game. He’s good on the ball though
and competitive without it. He makes intelligent runs, particularly around the
box and has a good feeling for attacking from midfield. He can be a bigger
personality on the pitch and should score more goals given the chances he makes
for himself but he’s a good player who is young even for the U21s and improving.
Jarrod Bowen - Striker – Age 19
Jarrod signed for City from the ashes of Hereford United in 2014. He
played games and got himself on the score-sheet in the Conference for Hereford
as a 17-year-old and has continued to show the promise that made him attractive
to City back then. He plays on the left hand side, generally in a front three,
and has pace, great dribbling ability and a lovely strike off his left foot. He’s
an impact player who really adds something to the team.
He can improve his all-round game, particularly his decision making
around the box and his final ball in if a shot isn’t on but he’s another who
has a great opportunity to play league football for a long time and, if it was
up to me, would have been around the City senior side last season.
JonathanEdwards – Striker – Age 19
Jonathan joined City this summer from Peterborough United. He’s been a
prolific striker at youth level but never made the breakthrough at Posh despite
a small handful of senior appearances. He’s actually been sent off once more
than he’s scored in senior football!
He has good stature, is said to be quick off the mark and has an eye for
goal. He’ll be one to watch in the U21s next season.
Ben Hinchliffe
– Striker – Age 18
Ben signed a two-year pro-deal this summer after four years in the
academy with his twin brother, Matt. Ben is the hardest working player you’ll
see on a football pitch. He doesn’t stop harassing defenders from minute one.
He’s the perfect striker for any team who want to press from the front and his
all-round game is good and constantly improving too.
He’s a very good header of the ball and he makes intelligent runs. He’s
got a little bit of growing room and if he does ad another couple of inches, he
can be a very good target man.
Luke Lofts
– Forward – Age 18
Luke is a small
attacking midfield player who has also just become a first-year professional. He’s
the player I know the least about having not featured very often when I’ve been
to U21 and Youth Cup games.
Greg Luer
– Striker – Age 21
Greg is a born goal poacher – plain and simple. He joined City from
Burgess Hill in January 2015 and has had loan spells at Port Vale, Scunthorpe
and Stevenage but is yet to bag his first league goal. He does have two for
City’s senior team though, scoring against Accrington and Rochdale in the
league cup last season.
He’s another player who’ll be desperately looking to get out on loan for
the coming season and prove himself at a good level. His all-round game keeps
improving and he’s a good team player who uses his pace to make selfless runs
that create opportunities for others. He’s definitely developed his awareness
of others during his time at City.
Greg Olley
– Forward – Age 20
The other Greg was released by Newcastle and joined City last summer
after a tip-off from ex-Tiger Steve Harper. He’s a talented midfielder who has played
just off a striker for most of his time at City. He’s mobile, technically very
good, has an eye for a pass and finishes coolly. He’s a good all-rounder but if
there’s anything going to stop him making it at the top level, it’s that he’s
good at everything but not really great at anything.
Johan Ter
Horst – Striker – Age 21
Thanks to terrible PA announcers at away grounds, I refer to JTH now as “Joanne”.
Just don’t tell him – or his Mum!
Johan is
another southerner, from Ashford in Kent, although as the name suggests, he has
some Dutch heritage. He’s a small but sharp striker who signed a three year
deal with City in the summer of 2014 – joining from the wonderfully-named Folkstone
Invicta.
He’s very
bright around the box, makes good runs, has a good touch and finishes well. He’s
been held back somewhat by niggling injuries which have disrupted both of his
seasons in the U21. If he can steer clear of injury, he’ll be a useful asset because
he’s a knack for making something happen in the key areas.
The lads play the majority of their home games at Church Road, North Ferriby. It's a great little ground, easy to park for most U21 games and they do a well-priced pint and good food. Plus, with your Hull City season pass-membership-thingy, you can get in for free!
Here comes another round-up of all of the past week’s transfer
stories involving Hull City.
The Tigers’ players return for pre-season testing on
Monday ahead of a trip to Portugal for warm-weather training so it was always
likely that things would start to get settled regarding the manager’s position
and the out-of-contract players.
Sadly, the ownership remains the great unknown with
rumours flying around and the situation seemingly changing on a daily basis.
What we do know is, the Allams still own the club and while that’s the case –
the atmosphere remains fractious.
26th June
In a story right out of left-field, AfricanFootball.com
say The Tigers have “jumped to the head of the queue” to sign Nigerian striker
Umar Aminu from Osmanlispor in Turkey. They add that Besiktas have had a bid
rejected for the 21-year-old but fear he will struggle to get a work permit to
play in England.
It’s hard to know how reliable some of these “specialist”
websites are. For instance, the site focusing on Egyptian football, Kingfut, is
very good but some of the Italian football sites tend to spout utter rubbish.
Watch this space, I guess!
27th June
The Mirror claim City are interested in Augsburg striker
Raul Bobadilla. The Argentina-born Paraguay international, 29, is a powerful
striker who has been back and forth between clubs in Switzerland and Germany
for most of the last decade. His scoring record isn’t great in the Bundesliga
but he’ll help make opportunities for a natural finisher and at a rumours £5m –
he’s a hell of a lot cheaper than domestic options!
According to the Daily Star five clubs have expressed an
interest in loaning Manchester United striker James Wilson. The 20-year-old had
a loan spell at Brighton last season and the Star say the promoted trio of The
Tigers, Burnley and Middlesbrough plus relegated Aston Villa and their rivals Birmingham
City want to take him this season.
28th June
The Telegraph ran a story online on Steve Bruce’s future,
suggesting it remains undecided and any transfer business is on old amid
speculation over that and the future of the club’s owners. A small line did
suggest that once Bruce’s future is sorted, he’ll make Derby County and Ireland
midfielder Jeff Hendrick a target. Hendrick impressed many with his
performances at Euro 2016 though he is currently awaiting trial over a violent
incident in Dublin when a man was left with a broken jaw after a confrontation
with a group of men including Hendrick – allegedly.
According to the Derby Telegraph, Hendrick is also wanted by Middlesbrough and Galatasaray.
30th June
Steve Bruce has been touted as potential England manager
since the national team crashed out of Euro 2016 to Iceland on Monday. With the
threat of that hanging over him, Bruce today committed his future to City! The
doubts over the ownership remain with the rumour-mill still suggesting American
and Chinese investors are in talks with the Allams but Bruce will stay in spite
of that according to a statement on the official website – the first statement
of any note made by the club in weeks.
On the transfer front, “Steve Bruce” said “We plan to
make improvements to our squad in the coming weeks and a transfer budget and
wage structure has been set by the Board for the new campaign. It is simply not
correct that I have been told I cannot sign any players as reported in the
media this week. We are already looking at potential targets in order to
strengthen the squad.”
City U21 skipper Max Clark will return to Cambridge
United on loan for six months. The midfielder had a short spell under Shaun
Derry last season and will now serve a longer stint on loan. Max has long been
touted as a potential breakthrough star at the KCOM Stadium after being
involved with the England youth sides as a 16 year-old left back and the move
into midfield has stunted his progress somewhat. Now 20, this is a big
opportunity for him to show off his always impressive appearances in the “reserves”
in senior football.
You’ll notice a lot of loan deals going through in the
next few weeks lasting until January. This is because the football league is no
longer allowed to sanction “emergency loans” outside of transfer windows. Clubs
have to manage with what they have on September 1st. Although free agents
can be signed at any time as always.
1st July
After all of the speculation, we actually got a confirmed
transfer today! First broken by ESPN in May, AFC Wimbledon goalkeeper Will
Mannion, 18, joined City on a three-year deal. The fee will be decided by
tribunal as the clubs were unable to agree a settlement.
Mannion’s arrival into the U21 setup at City allowed Rory
Watson to complete a season-long loan move to new National League side North
Ferriby United. This has been doing the rounds for a while so was clearly dependent on
that Mannion deal.
There was more good news as Tom Huddlestone followed
Eldin Jakupovic and Ahmed Elmohamady in signing a new contract with City – Tom will
stay until 2018.
One player not joining City is released Sunderland
striker Steven Fletcher who signed for Sheffield Wednesday. That’s an
injury-prone bullet dodged.
Hatem Ben Arfa, who left City in disgrace after a
disastrous loan spell from Newcastle in 2014, has transferred from Nice to PSG. Ben
Arfa was a fat, lazy mess at Newcastle and wasn’t much better during his short
time in Hull. His stint hardly got going and was doomed after he infamously covered
less distance in a game at Old Trafford than Allan McGregor – who is, of
course, a goalkeeper. He’s been re-born at Nice and had been linked with moves
to Barcelona, Chelsea, Leicester and Southampton before deciding on Paris.
Another ex-Tiger, Danny East, was on the move today
joining Leeds-based National League side Guiseley after his release by Grimsby.
He’ll be joined there by North Ferriby’s best player last season Ash
Palmer. A real blow for the Villagers.
