If we’ve agreed a deal in principle for a replacement but are waiting for the appeal hearing that may happen this month or next month to officially sign them then we run the risk of that player getting a better offer from someone else next week. There’s absolutely no reason to wait until after the appeal hearing to sign free agents.
Problem is. If we can sign free transfers why can’t we sign them now? Some players will be wanting sorting out now or they will go elsewhere. The lot will miss pre season as well. All insanity, instability and setting up for another turbulent season.
Some on here who are ITK have mentioned the club has two target lists; one for if the appeal is successful and the fee restriction is expunged entirely and another if we still have a fee restriction this summer. If that’s the case then Idi makes a valid point. We’d be agreeing deals in principle with free agents but won’t commit to signing them until after the appeal because we don’t plan on signing them if the fee restriction is lifted this summer.
One thing to mention is, we don't know for certain it's a CB lined up. The Hull Live article just says a defender. It could well be a LB, and we're happy to use Ashbee/McCarty as 4th choice CB, with Ajayi as cover for Hughes and Egan?
'McLoughlin's departure leaves Jakirovic with Charlie Hughes, John Egan, and summer arrival Semi Ajayi, along with Jones, but Hull Live understands a new arrival is close'. That definitely suggests a centre back.
Surely if we have a player agreed to sign and he will likely be 4th choice we would just sign him and get him through the door, rather than waiting for the appeal hearing and getting gazumped by Oxford
If they're a free agent and have agreed a deal - bare minimum is you would think they would come in as a trialist until then? I imagine it's a LB as Macca moving on leaves a bigger hole there than it currently does at CB
He’s not really worth much more than £500k though is he, and any club that would be prepared or able to pay more isn’t going to have any interest in him. It’s better than losing him for free next year and much better for him to go and be first choice somewhere, he deserves to be playing week in week out and not getting any younger. I think this is good business for everyone.
Totally agree... £500k is a fairly small amount of money for a player of McLoughlins worth at our Club.Flexible,reliable and apparently the longest player on the books... We must've run up one hell of a bill with the milkman to be giving players away!!!!
Looks like thousands are cancelling their memberships over the news of club legend McLoughlin’s departure.