Hull City hope to resolve the uncertain future of Robert Koren this weekend following crunch talks between the club and player over the last 48 hours. Koren has been the focal point of continued speculation linking him with a move away from the KC Stadium this summer, a situation heightened by the revelation of a £500,000 buy-out clause in his existing deal. Manager Steve Bruce admitted last week he may be "powerless" to hold on to the Slovenian. But City have attempted to finally kill off interest from Championship rivals Leicester by tabling a new and improved contract to the supporters' player of the season. Koren, who has just 12 months remaining of his current deal, is understood to have been offered increased terms on a fresh contract that would now tie him to the club until 2014. City are now hopeful the new deal will be enough to convince Koren to stay in East Yorkshire and thwart the overtures of Leicester. However, with the 31-year-old looking for a three-year deal, as opposed to City's opening offer of two, it would require one of the two parties to soften their stance. With the new Championship season just three weeks away, Bruce wants to see the issue settled and hopes clarity could be afforded over the weekend. The clear preference is to keep Koren at the KC but City are unwilling to enter into a bidding war with the financially-powerful Foxes for a player who will turn 32 in September. Koren has so far featured in all three of City's pre-season friendlies and was handed the captain's armband for the 0-0 draw at Grimsby seven days ago. The midfielder, for his part, has been tight-lipped over his next move, but City are refusing to give up hope of him committing his long-term future.
You just couldn't make up Charlie's comments yerself could you time after time he comes out with a comment and then his own team shoot him in the foot you just wonder what numpty comment he's gonna come up with next.....class, keep it up Charlie, yer side splitting
I thought the release clause was only for Premier League clubs. Either way at least we'll know where we stand within the next week.
I think that rumour started on not606. Charlie you seriously need to spend less time on the Leicester board, you come across as obsessed. At the moment I'd say we're favourites to keep him, the fact he's not left yet suggests he was waiting to see our ambition (which is what his agent said after barmby had left). If signing Aluko and spending £2.6m on a striker isn't ambition I don't know what is. Add to that we're set to offer him increased wages in this new deal and the only reasons I can see him leaving for Leicester are that they offer vastly superior wages (unlikely to be that much more) or they offer 3 years and we offer 2. I anticipate he'll stay but if not there are replacements out there eg buszaky
To be fair, he did talk to Koren at a behind closed doors game against Oldham this week, we got a match report and photo's and everything, the whole kit and caboodle.
But OLM, it's the number of gaffes Charlie keeps coming out with. The latest one being the approach by Huddersfield for Ben Marshall <duh> It's been said today that Huddersfield don't want Peltier because 850k is too much, so why would they pay that for Marshall and anyway BM would be worth at least triple that now. Even you must laugh at some or most of his inane comments
At the end of the day if Koren has got a clause for 500k, the club has got a duty to inform him of the bid, from whoever ! Now if NP wants him is still to be seen, but really or rather realistically do we need another midfielder ? I know he's a good player and all that, but he's 32 or thereabouts so what sort of contract would either Hull or Leicester offer. I don't know, but I think he'll stay with Hull if all the reports about Bruce wanting to keep him, however if a premier team come in for him and I dont see too many tripping over themselves to get him, things may be different. Anyway we will see, I personally think NP will go for one more CB (Maguire) and maybe a winger, but that's it...Maybe
He is that old? Thought he was around 30 - if that is the case I really doubt he will get a 3 year deal from us. We do need experience in the middle of the park as Wellens seems to be breaking down much more easily now but 3 year contract on someone who most likely has 2 years at best? Most likely we'd offer the same deal we had for Solano - 1 year with an extra if he played so many games. Ball is in Hull's court here, is up to them how much they want to keep him - as it also says above in AKCJ's post, we can offer him a better 2 year deal then they most likely will.
And the fact we are more likely to get promoted. Not that he would figure for us in the Prem, but football is all about achievements.
Maybe a bid is on the table and, depending what happens in these 'crunch talks', we'll go from there. Just spit ballin'.
I hope to god he pledges the rest of his career to hull.... or I shall be setting up the " great back peddling" thread....first prize a unicycle...second prize a huge spoon to scoop tons of egg off faces...third prize, a years supply of tissues...
He's 31, but he's not likely to get more than a two year deal with anyone, we've offered him an improved deal to 2014 and as far as we know, his clause hasn't been triggered by anyone yet, so presumably if NP wants him, he'll have to bid before Koren takes up the offer of a new deal with us(which obviously won't include any such clause).
How is that a fact? Just because the bookies reckon you are doesn't mean you actually are, surely you can still remember last season.
Koren was always the player most likely to leave, so this is hardly a surprise and as it seems Bruce is going to change our formation I think we may have some difficulty accommodating him in the team. I still hope he stays, but if he doesn't, I hope we replace him with Ãkos Buzsáky.
OK, maybe not a fact, but we are in most people opinion, and in Koren's I'm sure, more likely to get promoted than you. Doesn't mean we will, as I think four or five clubs more likely than us, but you're lot aren't among them. Last season didn't prove anything, since neither of us got promoted.
