Hull City transfer state of play as Tigers seek to conclude deals before FA Cup clash
Hull City continue to work on a flurry of transfer deals as Acun Ilicali looks to give Ruben Selles the best chance possible of moving the Tigers away from the bottom three.
City remain third bottom of the Championship but there has been an upturn in their form since Selles' arrival. The former Reading boss has recorded two wins and two draws from his seven games in charge, including Saturday's memorable comeback in the final 10 minutes against leaders and Yorkshire rivals Leeds United in front of a sold-out MKM Stadium, snatching a 3-3 draw.
Matt Crooks will be City's first signing of the window when his move from MLS side Real Salt Lake is confirmed, with the dynamic midfielder signing a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Tigers.
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It's hoped Crooks will be followed by more new arrivals, with City in talks with Leeds over a loan move for striker Joe Gelhardt, who was on the bench at the weekend and is understood to be keen to push the move forward and make it happen.
City have also agreed a fee with a selling club over a winger with extensive Championship experience, with a conclusion on that deal expected in the next 24 hours or so. The Tigers are also in talks with two clubs over two defenders, again, a pre-requisite being the need to have played regularly in the second tier.
Willy Boly is a player of interest but getting him out of Nottingham Forest will not be easy with the Reds more likely to sanction the departure of Andrew Omobamidele, unless they can bring in adequate cover. Former target Ryan Porteous is another player the Tigers like, and could be on his way out of Watford.
The Tigers hierarchy is acutely aware of the club's perilous position at the bottom end of the league and believes players that have vast experience of the level are key to supplementing what Selles already has at his disposal.
Louie Barry is another key target for City but the East Yorkshire club face a battle to prize him away from Aston Villa in the next week or so. The Tigers have a good working relationship with the Premier League club, but know other clubs higher up the league are also keen to sign the 21-year-old hotshot who has bagged 15 goals for Stockport County in the League One promotion race this term.
Marvin Mehlem and Will Jarvis have been the two players to depart so far since the window opened last Wednesday, but there will be more as Selles looks to create spaces in his squad, and move on those players he doesn't believe will feature in the remaining months of the season.
The topic of transfers was a key topic on the latest episode of the 1904 Club podcast featuring Kathryn Batte, James Fletcher and David Prutton.
You can listen to the latest episode of the 1904 Club via the links below or further up this article...
