4 days Ago By [email protected] (Barry Cooper)
Acun Ilicali admits the January transfer window could be a challenge for Hull City , if their poor start to the Championship season continues for much longer. City sit 19th in the table after just three wins in their first 15 games and find themselves only outside the bottom three on goal difference with four teams all on 15 points, including Saturday's opponents, Luton Town. Twelve months ago, after 15 games, City were ninth in the table following a 3-1 defeat at West Brom, which left them with 23 points, two off the top six, but being in the mix for the promotion spots gave them some bargaining power going into the January transfer window.
That allowed ambitious City to bring in the likes of Ryan Giles, Noah Ohio, Anass Zaroury and Fabio Carvalho, the latter in particular, the very definition of a marquee signing at Championship level. As the Tigers prepare their business for this January, their current plight may see them face challenges to get quality players into the squad that can actually have a positive impact and not just become another financial drain on their club's resources. Here, we look at key areas for improvement.
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City's Achilles heel has been around for a period of time now. Not replacing Liam Delap in January was a major factor in the Tigers struggling for goals in the second half of the season, especially given Aaron Connolly's troubles, Jaden Philogene's enforced absence and Billy Sharp's lack of potency. It left them relying on Ozan Tufan and Carvalho, with Ohio chipping in when he was played.
Again this summer, City failed to get quality in up front and it's become a real problem for Tim Walter. Chris Bedia has shown glimpses, but not enough, while Mason Burstow remains largely unknown given his lack of minutes, and though Joao Pedro has scored two wonderful goals since coming into the team, there's a lack of consistent threat. Tyrell Sellars-Fleming is banging them in for the Under-21s - seven in four games - but he's still untested at Championship level on a consistent basis, so it's an area for desperate action.
City tried - and failed - to sign David Datro Fofana and Deivid Washington on deadline day in August and the club are working on bringing in a new frontman in January, but stars will need to align for that to happen. Ultimately, teams are judged by the ability to score goals and with just 16 so far, it's not rocket science to understand that's not enough, especially when you're shipping 20 at the other end. Ilicali's sole task in January is to go and get firepower; it's as simple as that.
In fairness to the club, it looked like the wide areas had been boxed off. Signing Liam Millar, Mohamed Belloumi and Abu Kamara was brilliant business, especially with Ryan Longman and Will Jarvis in the background to provide cover and competition. Few could argue that wasn't an area brilliantly dealt with after Jaden Philogene's exit.
Unfortunately, Millar and Belloumi are both out for the season, and in many respects, they're back to square one. Longman is back fit again, and Sinik is nearing a level of fitness which can see him involved, though, if we're honest, we've got absolutely no idea how that's going to play out given his wretched record so far. Jarvis is something of an enigma according to Walter, whose comments about the youngster will go one of two ways.
City can't afford to go and splurge big on a winger like they did in the summer on Kamara, Millar and Belloumi, so the loan market may be a good area for focus to provide some quality, and competition, on a short term basis at least. Ilicali has confirmed the club intend to go after a number six , given the lengthy ban handed to Oscar Zambrano. The Ecuador youngster is going to miss the rest of the season, at least.
It's an area of the pitch the Tigers have struggled with all season, with Walter's system hampering the impact in that key part of the pitch. City may still have Regan Slater, Xavier Simons, Gustavo Puerta and Fin Burns who can play in that position, but with Zambrano's absence, they obviously feel its an area for improvement. Lewis O'Brien is a player City have tracked for a period of time , but it looks as if his loan move to LAFC from Nottingham Forest will be made permanent in the coming weeks in a deal worth £7m.
City's squad is at breaking point . They've maxed out every available space inside their squad, and there will need to be departures to allow players to come in during the window's 34 business days. Although far from ideal, obviously, the injuries to Millar and Belloumi mean both players can be deregistered, given they won't play again this season, while the same can be said for Zambrano, so that's three spots.
There needs to be a decision made over the future of Carl Rushworth, given he won't be available until around Christmas and wasn't getting a look in before that, as well as Fin Burns. The Manchester City youngster has managed just 83 minutes of Championship action so far, and if he's not going to be involved, he may well want to go somewhere he can play. Where do you think City need work in January? Have your say in the comments below.
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