Hull City sanction transfer exit as Ruben Selles makes another key squad decision
Hull City goalkeeper Anthony Racioppi has agreed a move away from the club bringing an end to a frustrating season in England.
The Swiss stopper is joining German Bundesliga.2 promotion-chasing FC Koln on loan with a view to making that move permanent in the summer.
City signed the 26-year-old from Young Boys in the summer 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 when the Tigers brought in Carl Rushworth on loan from Brighton.
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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.
Though the experienced goalkeeper penned a three-year deal when he arrived in the summer, City have worked with Racioppi to help him seal a move to the side who sit second in Bundesliga.2, level on points with leaders Hamburg.
Racioppi's imminent exit is the latest Tigers squad player to be moved on by Selles this month as he looks to freshen up his squad before Monday's 11pm deadline. Chris Bedia is leaving and expected to join Racioppi's former club, Young Boys, and Xavier Simons is also set to be loaned out, following Ryan Giles, Ryan Longman, Marvin Mehlem and Will Jarvis, all of whom have moved on this month.
Meanwhile, the Tigers expect to find out whether or not their bid to sign Charlie Taylor from Southampton has been successful in the next 24 hours, having agreed terms with the Saints and held discussions with the York-born left-back.
