Hull City are widening their net in the search for a new striker after what looks to be a change of plan in attempts to strengthen an attacking line that struggled for goals last season. The Tigers have long been linked with a move for former Sheffield United forward Oliver McBurnie, who is now a free agent after his deal with Las Palmas expired on June 30. As a free agent City are able to sign the player despite being under a three-window transfer fee restriction, but with an appeal lodged to the EFL over the severity of that punishment, the club have placed all incoming deals on hold and have made it clear they won't complete any incoming deals until the outcome of that appeal is known. That is not thought to be an issue stopping them from signing McBurnie, rather the Scotland international's large salary demands which would make him by far the club's best paid player. McBurnie continues to attract attention from a host of clubs in England and as a free agent, it is allowing the player to maximise his salary demands. That demand looks to have priced City out of any move in their current financial position. The Tigers haven't officially ended their interest in McBurnie, but it's understood the club have changed their position and now consider the chances of him coming to the MKM Stadium as very unlikely. Hull Live can reveal City had previously shown an interest in signing former Huddersfield Town and Bermuda international Nahki Wells, who has this week signed with Luton Town after becoming a free agent following his exit from Bristol City. The Tigers have also shown an interest in Liverpool's young teenage striker Lewis Koumas, who impressed on loan at Stoke City last year. With City placing all deals on hold that interest may not go anywhere, as rival clubs circle with Sheffield United and Norwich City now both reported as trying to push to get a deal done. Liverpool are likely to want a loan fee paying for Koumas, which would now rule out any deal unless City get their transfer fee restriction lifted by the EFL. However, as things stand the Tigers have not made any approach for Koumas, with him just remaining as a player of interest.
Our season doesn’t hinge on us signing McBurnie. But I agree with the sentiments from earlier in the thread that there’s zero need to put anything on hold, time isn’t something we have the luxury of if we are operating in the free agent market.
No, but it does hinge on us signing 1 - or preferably 2 - decent strikers. Any decent frees available?
Its ridiculous we waste so much time like this. I said way back in May that McBurnies wages would be higher than his worth. Every summer we chase targets at the top end of whats achievable and end up shooting ourselves in the foot.
Yeah, but it kept Acun's PR wheel turning for a few weeks didn't it? Maybe help sell a few membership renewals
I was being a little bit of tongue in cheek, seriously though we need to crack on or we are toast, Toast.
Mabe the great escape mark 2 for the new season. There were plenty in that team you would want by your side if the wheel was coming off.
He’s Phil brownesque isn’t he If mbappe was leaving Madrid he’d probably think he could persuade him to come here Stupid ****
Phil Brown did persuade Okocha and Geovanni to come here to be fair, probably the 2 most techinically gifted players to wear the shirt. emotions running high at the moment, but lets not start Slating the GOAT.
I can see both sides of the McBurnie decision - we need a striker, we need them to be free with no 'fee', McBrunie ticks all the boxes so we should get that one done at least. The other side is if his wages are rather high, and we at least trying to manage the books correctly, we need to know what we're playing with in terms of ability to sign players before we do anything. If we get stuck with a three window ban, outside of Frigan, any loans are likely to be a year. We won't be able to offer any loan fees so our only offer is taking on all the wages. It could be we look at players who want out of a club/club want them out, but are on big wages and we can be competitive by taking on those big wages. Kind of like what we needed with Giles and Omur post Jan. Free agents won't get a signing on fee so we're likely going to have to add that value to their wages. If you spread it over the first year of a contact, they won't agree to a paycut for a second year so you've either got to spread it over the full contract which has less impact on the player, but loads us up with higher wages for longer. If the player choses to move on after a year or two, they might feel they're not getting the 'signing on fee' value. If you do it over the first year so the player feels the impact, they have to agree a wage drop for the following seasons or we sign them on a 1 year deal and hope to sign them on new terms the following year. If the ban gets reduced to 1 or 2 windows we can leverage loans and obligations and could at least try for some existing targets or at least look outside of just 'loans' and free agents. If it gets lifted, full steam ahead and let chaos ensue. While it might not seem the right call in terms of the McBurnie deal I actually think its one of the more rational actions coming out of the club in the last few weeks. Unlike Wednesday (currently), we're likely to be competitive come start of the season (albeit blunt up top). Should no one leave we need 3/4 players (LB, LW and 2xST). If the ban is lifted/reduced I think we'll see more players leave and we'll play the trading game. Hopefully, we know one way or another in the next we or so. Fully expect us to sign Frigan and Barry regardless of the outcome.
Mcburnie now being reported as unlikely due to wages demands. From Baz: "Tigers haven't officially ended their interest in McBurnie, but it's understood the club have changed their position and now consider the chances of him coming to the MKM Stadium as very unlikely". And id be surprised if the EFL would ratify us circumventing a fee restriction punishment by simply delaying the fee by 18 months.
He’s training with the first team cos we don’t have enough ****ing players ffs It even says further down he’s going back to his club on loan Kinell
The original tweet saying he was going back to his club on loan was from February by the way, so would have meant the end of last season.
Regardless of the clubs situation, if he's asking for stupid wages we're doing the sensible thing and saying no imo,
