Five signings to get Hull City promoted from the Championship next term
Steve Bruce has said that Hull City need at least “four or five” new signings to be competitive for the start of the season having been relegated from the Premier League last season.
“I would have thought we need at least four or five (new signings) at the moment,” Bruce told local media.
“We’ll not have Robert Snodgrass and Mo Diame for the first month so with those two out we’ve got 19 players, and two of those are goalkeepers.
“We are a little bit thin on the ground, there’s no disputing that, but I’m quietly confident we’ll bring in some fresh faces and have a squad capable of challenging for promotion.
“The football is just starting now. We’re all back to work after one of the quietest summers I can remember and you can see things picking up,” he continued.
“We’re not under any pressure to sell our players. If people want them, they’re going to have to pay a healthy premium. We won’t let players go on the cheap.
“We’ve got to make sure we’ve got a squad talented enough to mount a challenge and I’m very, very confident we can do that.”
As such, Coral suggest exactly five new signings who could come in and make a difference, with the Tigers 10/3 to win promotion from the Championship next term.
Ryan Taylor
Free agent and versatile player Taylor has plenty of experience in the second tier of English football, with both Wigan Athletic and Newcastle United, so would be a useful addition to the squad. Also, as Hull is relatively close to his last club, he wouldn’t have too far to move.
James Wilson
Bruce could well use his ties to Manchester United again in order to land the prodigious talent which could be exactly what the player needs. Given his debut by Ryan Giggs, in which he bagged a brace, Wilson will be well looked after by Bruce, with the youngster likely to join on loan.
Lukasz Gikiewicz
This Polish striker, at AC Omonia could be a fantastic addition to the Tigers, and at 27 is savvy enough to perform well in the Championship, though is likely to command upwards of up to £1m, which could be a good investment.
Tom Lees
Groomed in the Leeds United academy he has a good footballing education, which has only improved while at Sheffield Wednesday. He would be a great squad player who could learn a lot from Bruce and the experienced Michael Dawson.
Emmanuel Ageymang-Badu
Udinese anchorman Ageymang-Badu is being linked to the Tigers and, at only 24, he could bring a lot of quality to the club, especially with Jake Livemore facing an uncertain future and Tom Huddlestone the subject of top-flight interest. Premier League clubs are also reportedly chasing Badu too, so he would be a great coup.