Hull City boss names three Croatian targets this summer
Hull City manager Sergej Jakirović has confirmed the Tigers are eyeing the Croatian market for three summer signings. The Championship side, now 6th with 73 points from 46 games, are reshaping their squad after securing promotion last season.
Why Hull City are looking east
Jakirović revealed Hull City are closing in on three players from Croatia and beyond. Toni Fruk (HNK Rijeka), Rokas Pukštas (Hajduk Split) and Marco Pašalić (Orlando City) are all on the manager’s radar. The boss ruled out a move for Dinamo Zagreb’s Arbër Hoxha this window.
“There are some players we’ve already had talks with, but the new situation has changed some things,” Jakirović said. “The new guy has new ideas, his own contacts, and maybe he’ll bring in better players.”
The Dublin exit and new sporting director
Hull City parted ways with sporting director Jared Dublin last week. The club are reportedly set to appoint Okan Özkan as his successor-Özkan previously worked under Mario Branca at Fenerbahçe and later in Poland. Jakirović refused to discuss Dublin’s exit, citing the owner’s decision.
“The owner made the decision. I won’t go into the reasons and details,” he said. “Okan Özkan came, whom the owner knows from Fenerbahçe.”
Pandur’s sale and financial fair play
Hull City sold goalkeeper Ivor Pandur to Rangers on 30 June for a reported €7m. The move came amid financial fair play concerns, with Jakirović admitting the club had no choice.
“We had to sell him because he was hanging over our head because of financial fair play and a potential loss of six points,” he explained. “On the one hand I’m sorry, on the other I’m glad for him.”
Where Hull City stand now
With 70 goals scored and 66 conceded, Hull City sit six points behind Coventry in the title race. Their next fixture is a tough away trip to Liverpool on 20 February 2027. Recent form reads WWDWL, keeping the Tigers in the hunt for a top-six finish.
