Hull City confirm transfer decision as January squad reshuffle continues
Hull City goalkeeper Anthony Racioppi has left the club to join German giants Koln on loan for the rest season after failing to make a single Championship appearance.
The Swiss goalkeeper will head to the side who sit second in Bundesliga.2 behind leaders Hamburg, and the move could be made permanent in the summer, with him not part of Ruben Selles' plans.
City signed the 26-year-old from Young Boys in the summer, penning a three-year contract at the MKM Stadium in a move which excited fans after he played in the Champions League last season. But he found himself playing second fiddle to Ivor Pandur in the early weeks of the season before dropping to third choice when the Tigers brought in Carl Rushworth on loan from Brighton.
READ MORE: Hull City head coach Ruben Selles adds mystique to transfer deadline day with comment
READ MORE: Hull City boss Ruben Selles left with key decision ahead of crunch Stoke City six-pointer
Racioppi's sole appearance for the Tigers came in the EFL Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the opening week of the season, with his error contributing to the opening goal at the MKM Stadium.
Geneva-born Racioppi was expected to return to the squad following Rushworth's surprise return to the South Coast, but head coach Ruben Selles made it clear the former Swiss Under-21 international needed to play games and not be a back-up, so his move to Germany will offer him that chance.
Chris Bedia will follow the gloveman out of the the MKM Stadium exit door with his move to Racioppi's former club, Young Boys, expected to be confirmed in the next 24 hours. The striker, who signed on loan from Union Berlin in the summer has scored just three goals.
There could be further departures in the coming days with Swedish outfit AIK still keen to sign Xavier Simons, but City's Championship rivals QPR also want the midfielder, though that deal at this stage is unlikely to get done and AIK remain favourites.
Dogukan Sinik is likely to move, and there remains loose interest in Abdus Omur, but with the Turkish window not closing until mid-February, the need to close those deals is not quite so pressing.
