Transfer Rumours Summer 2025 Transfer Thread…

Is Laalaoui expected to be a starter?

 

For the under 21s I would think so.

 

Baz said on the podcast that he's expected to be more of a development signing. Seems a bit strange to me though if he's 20 and has been playing regularly in Morocco, surely a loan would be better for him in that case.

 

I think we are agreeing Syd

My original point was that our foreign business isn’t as bad as some people think. I think it’s been decent. You’re saying it’s been fine.

 

Although, in the HDM article it says "Laalaoui will initially be part of City's first team squad and is expected to travel to Turkey with the hope of impressing newly-appointed head coach Sergej Jakirovic."

 

@Steven Toast reckons Baz is a bit wide of the mark about Laalaoui going straight into the under-21s. Apparently, he’s a first team signing for this season.

 

I guess Sellars-Fleming, Tinsdale et al were on our pre-season tour last year too..

 

At 20 you would hope he is targeted as a first team signing but might just need more game time in the development squad to adapt to life in England.

 

Doesn’t look like his English is great either, so might take a while to settle in.

 

For what it’s worth, I don’t think he goes straight into the starting XI. I think he will be eased in like Puerta was in the first half of the season just gone. Puerta didn’t make his debut until October. It probably will take at least six months for him to learn enough English.

Also, he must be a highly-rated talent for us to sign him given the GBE work visa requirements.

 

To be fair I think Puerta was more due to injuries but agree in principle.

 

Yes, we needed them cos we were down to the bare bones. Look at the team we put out vs Fenerbahce

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/715541/hull-city-fenerbahce

 

For me, he's not going to go from playing men's football in his home country to playing against Fleetwood Reserves for the season. Like Kalman said, he might play with them initially to get up to speed, but if he hits the ground running in pre season he'll be in the first team.

Also, since when do we make social media videos for reserve team players? The club see this as important enough of a signing to go the effort (albeit not much) of making a video to introduce him, so bunging him in with the stiffs doesn't seem conducive.

 

I presume we won't be playing Fenerbahce this season..

 

I wonder if we'll see any more North African players come over - Boulbina seemed like an interesting potential for example.

 

As someone rightly pointed out. Belloumi was in Algeria a year prior to us signing him. There’s talent to be found in Northern Africa

 

McBurnie would be an excellent signing. I am not sure whether it is a possibility or just paper talk.
Any front man that could score 12-15 goals would be a massive bonus. McBurnie certainly ticks all the boxes.

 

Considering overall quality of squad right now, Reda would probably be a rotation option with occasional sub-ins. Summer is very long though, I wouldn't be suprised with at least 10 more arrivals, couple of big names in same position.