DEAL OR NO DEAL

FINAL DAYS OF TRANSFER WINDOW TO BE EXCITING AS NICE WINGER SIGNS

28 Aug 2026 - Hull Daily Mail

By SAM COOPER sam.cooper@reachplc.com @Hulllive

THE final few days of the transfer window are expected to be frantic, with Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic primed for more arrivals ahead of Tuesday night’s deadline.

Owner Acun Ilicali was at the club’s Cottingham training ground yesterday to head up more recruitment meetings as the Tigers look to secure their final deals of what’s been a frantic summer so far since promotion was secured at Wembley back in May.

A big part of those recruitment meetings in the next two days will centre on moving players out of the club, with the Tigers aware of the need to trim down the numbers so Jakirovic is able to name his 25-man squad next month without having a host of players sat in the stands kicking their heels.

Mohamed-ali Cho’s arrival from Nice has been confirmed in a deal worth in the region of 13m euros (£11m) plus add-ons. ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Coventry City, and Ilyas Ansah is also expected to arrive.

City are in talks with Serie A giants Roma over an initial loan move for Robinio Vaz, the 19-yearold French striker who is highly rated and would arrive with a fair amount of excitement.

Fabio Carvalho has remained a long-term target, and City’s interest has never gone away, but Brentford are uneasy about letting the Tigers’ former loan ace move, as he returns from an ACL injury, though Jakirovic was coy about that particular topic.

One player that won’t be coming now is Deportivo La Coruna winger Yeremay Hernandez, while Real Betis’ Pablo Garcia is also unlikely at this stage.

The club are also increasing their bid for Stoke City winger Sorba Thomas, with a desire to get that done as soon as possible if they can agree terms with the Potters.

Toby Collyer is wanted by City, and talks are ongoing with Manchester United over a move for the 22-year-old midfielder, though he could yet end up at Middlesbrough if the Tigers opt against getting that completed.

There will also be outgoings, too, with Matty Jacob set to exit and, so, too, Oscar Zambrano, who is on his way back from a hamstring injury and has two clubs chasing his signature. Any departure for Zambrano would only be a loan.

“We agreed on everything with Ali Cho,” Jakirovic said.

“Ansah will go on medical checks, so after the medical check, I am expecting that tomorrow it will be finished. This is a great signing for us.

“Maybe I’m expecting one more midfielder, and on the left side, one more.

“I don’t know who will be coming. Vaz, Yeremay (Hernandez), (Sorba) Thomas, I don’t know, because we are speaking, we are working with a few options, so who will be faster?

“Who will agree faster financial terms, the player, agent, mother, father, grandfather, or club?

“This is very important; all three sides must be satisfied with everything.”

City head to Coventry tomorrow looking to make it back-to-back wins at the start of the Premier League season, and they’ll go there without any fresh injury concerns.

Lewie Coyle and Semi Ajayi were both rested at Stoke City in midweek, along with Matt Crooks and Oli Mcburnie, but they’re all fine and will be involved at the CBS Arena, as will Hidemasa Morita, who made his first appearance of the season in the second half of their Carabao Cup victory.

Joe Gelhardt is due back in training on Monday with a view to being in the squad for the home game with Aston Villa next Saturday teatime.

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Next for City in Carabao Cup

TIGERS’ REWARD FOR BEATING STOKE CITY

28 Aug 2026 - Hull Daily Mail

By BARRY COOPER barry.cooper@reachplc.com @bazdjcooper

HULL City’s reward for beating Stoke City in the Carabao Cup at the bet365 Stadium on Tuesday night is a third-round clash with Premier League rivals Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.Dillon Phillips made a crucial save in the penalty shoot-out at Stoke

City have won 1-0 on their last two visits to Wearside, and against a side preparing for the Europa League, they will fancy their chances in the North East.

Boss Sergej Jakirovic made 11 changes from the weekend win over Manchester United, handing first starts to Lucas Herrington, Matt Targett, Lucas Gourna-douath and Jens Hjerto-dahl, while Hidemasa Morita made his debut off the bench in the second half.

Kieran Dowell cancelled out Robert Bozenik’s goal before half-time with a thunderous effort, but City couldn’t find a winner in normal time, and needed penalties to secure their safe passage through for the first time in six years.

Dillon Phillips, making his first start for City since Good Friday at Oxford United, kept out George Hirst’s penalty, and after four perfect kicks, Mo Belloumi stroked in the winner to seal a 5-4 victory in the shootout.

City haven’t been past the second round since winning at Leeds United on penalties in 2020, with Grant Mccann’s side beaten 5-1 at West Ham in round three, during Covid, before going on to win the League One title.

Games in round three will be played over two weeks next month, with the first set of fixtures being played in the week beginning September 7, and the next group taking place the following week, September 14. City’s trip to Wearside will be the week beginning September 7, given Sunderland are in Europa League action the following week.

Before that League Cup outing, City face Premier League games against Coventry City this Saturday, followed by the visit of Aston Villa to the MKM Stadium next weekend.

City don’t play the Black Cats until next year in the Premier League, with the clash on Wearside coming on January 2, with the reverse at the MKM Stadium on February 10, 2027.

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‘We are not here to make up the numbers’

RYAN GILES CAPPED A FINE DISPLAY WITH THE MAN OF THE MATCH CROWN ON SATURDAY

28 Aug 2026 - Hull Daily Mail

By BARRY COOPER barry.cooper@reachplc.com @bazdjcooper

DEFENDER Ryan Giles believes Hull City’s dominant 2-0 win over Manchester United on Saturday sends a message to the rest of the Premier League about the Tigers’ determination to be a success.Ryan Giles impressed on Saturday against Manchester United

City’s stay in the Premier League has been widely tipped to be short-lived, following their promotion through the Championship play-offs.

Most pundits have written the Tigers off, but the manner of their victory at the MKM Stadium has since generated plenty of plaudits, as attention quickly turns towards what’s already been dubbed a six-pointer at Coventry City on Saturday.

Giles feels the way City performed throughout the 90-plus minutes shows that the Tigers are serious, and not just in the topflight for a change of scenery.

“Yeah, brilliant, a fantastic day for the football club, delighted for everybody,” Giles told Hulllive. “I’m hoping that sends a bit of a message out to the rest of the league and everybody watching that we’re not just here to make the numbers up.

“We know it’s going to be tough, but there’s a good core in that dressing room with brilliant togetherness and brilliant resilience. I feel like if we can just stick to that, we’ll go toe-to-toe with a lot of teams this year. It doesn’t get much better than that, to be honest. I’m delighted, like I said. I thought to a man, everyone was absolutely brilliant.

“The fans as well, the stadium was absolutely rocking, so it was a brilliant day for the football club. Obviously, I appreciate it’s only one game, but it’s something to take confidence from, enjoy it, and we keep cracking on.”

Home form for a newly promoted team is always so important, and getting off to a winning start with a clean sheet will give City confidence going forward, with Coventry City away next weekend, before Europa League winners Aston Villa visit the MKM Stadium early next month.

“Yes, it’s massive,” Giles continued. “We’ll take that forward. Of course, we know we’ve got a lot to work on, we know that this year, there are going to be some tough games, and we know we’re gonna have to ride the storm at times, and we’ll probably have setbacks, but it doesn’t get much better than this.

“I feel like it’s important to get off to a good start, and we have done. We just keep building, and we keep cracking on.”

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Sorba Thomas

City step up Sorba Thomas pursuit 

as two new arrivals close in on moves

HULL City are set to increase their offer for Stoke City winger Sorba Thomas in a bid to get a deal done before Tuesday night’s transfer deadline.

The Tigers have already seen an opening bid rejected, which was thought to be worth in the region of £7m for the Welsh international, with £5m of that up front, but Stoke want upwards of £10m.

City, who were winners at Stoke on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup, are keen to bring in the 27-year-old, who is viewed as a versatile performer, capable of operating on either wing or at fullback.

Thomas caught the eye against Sergej Jakirovic’s men in midweek, carving out the opening goal for Robert Bozenik, and then scoring his penalty in the shoot-out that the Tigers eventually won 5-4 to set up a third-round tie at Sunderland next month.

It’s understood Thomas, who joined Stoke from Huddersfield Town last summer in a £1.5m deal having been close to a move to City in January 2025, is keen to move to the MKM Stadium and grasp the opportunity to play in the Premier League, and is thought to have made those feelings known to the Championship club.

Despite suggestions that Canadian winger Liam Millar could be included as part of a potential deal for Thomas, sources have indicated that it is not likely.

Last term, Thomas was the Championship’s top assist maker with 13, while he chipped in with 10 goals for Mark Robins’ Potters, who is not surprised there is interest in his player.

City, meanwhile, expect to complete a deal for Mohamed-ali Cho in time for him to feature at Coventry City on Saturday afternoon, while Ilyas Ansah is undergoing a medical at the MKM Stadium on Thursday. At this stage, it’s understood that the German Under-21 international may not be signed in time to be involved this weekend. As Hull Live revealed earlier this week, both are expected to sign five-year deals in East Yorkshire.

Ali Cho could be confirmed on Thursday, with it expected the French winger will be included in Sergej Jakirovic’s squad heading to the CBS Arena looking to make it successive Premier League wins.

Elsewhere, the Tigers will not be signing Deportivo La Coruna starlet Yeremay Hernandez, after the young Spanish winger opted to stay in La Liga, following the club’s promotion, and has moved on to other targets, though that is not expected to be Real Betis winger Pablo Garcia.