Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic has indicated that the club anticipates securing at least one new forward before their Premier League opener against Manchester United next weekend.
Jakirovic’s concerns regarding striking options were apparent during Saturday’s match when Oli McBurnie was substituted, making way for academy youth product Tyrell Sellars-Fleming in the closing stages of the scoreless encounter with Nice.
Both Kyle Joseph and Enis Destan have departed the club through sales, while Joe Gelhardt, although back in contention, is expected to be unavailable for a short period due to an ankle injury.
The East Yorkshire outfit recognise the necessity of bringing in attacking reinforcements to support McBurnie, and Jakirovic has confirmed negotiations are underway for a minimum of one forward, with the possibility of two signings before the start of the campaign.
Speaking to the publication, Jakirovic stated that work is progressing on this front and expressed confidence that at least one striker would be secured within the coming days, potentially two. He explained that additional forwards are required given the current injury situation, and with a lengthy season ahead, the squad needs greater depth in this department. The manager noted that discussions have already taken place with certain players, and the situation would become clearer soon.
The Croatian indicated that new arrivals should materialise within the next two to three days. He also highlighted the need for wingers, emphasising the importance of quality competition in wide areas so that players not selected initially can make an impact when introduced from the bench. Jakirovic stressed that the club requires game-changers, pointing to several promising situations created in and around the penalty area during the Nice fixture that ought to have represented certain scoring opportunities.
Regarding the outcome against the French top-flight side, City struggled to break down their opponents and concluded their pre-season schedule without finding the net.
Jakirovic acknowledged that Nice presented a strong side and had clearly prepared tactically for the contest, describing the match as satisfactory. He observed that some chances were created and a goal might have been possible. The manager revealed that at half-time, adjustments were made to the midfield shape to enable more aggressive pressing around the ball, resulting in improved performance after the break. The wingers operated in slightly narrower positions, allowing the team to regain possession frequently, though the final pass was occasionally lacking, and greater ruthlessness in front of goal would be beneficial in similar scenarios.