Hull City Signs Record-Breaking Transfer
Hull City has signed Greek international Konstantinos Tzolakis in a record-breaking deal worth around £20m. This move brings an end to the Tigers' summer search, which has taken them across Europe.
What Happened?
Tzolakis will arrive at Hull City from Olympiacos, bringing an end to the club's search for a new goalkeeper. The Greek international has played at the top level, including the Champions League, and has experience playing for his country.
Why It Matters for Hull City
The arrival of Tzolakis sparks a fascinating debate over the number one jersey, with experienced goalkeeper Jack Butland potentially facing competition for the spot. Butland, who joined Hull City earlier this summer, has shown his quality in pre-season, making outstanding stops to preserve the Tigers' second successive victory.
What Comes Next?
The outlay on Tzolakis suggests he will be Sergej Jakirovic's first choice, but Butland will have something to say about that. The Greek international has played at the top level, and his arrival will bring a new level of competition to the goalkeeping department.
Hull City spent £3m on Jack Butland earlier this summer, with the experienced former England goalkeeper leaving Rangers, where he had established himself as their number one and played in Europe year after year. Let's be right, City haven't spent £3m on a player for two years, so while that may seem a fairly low amount by Premier League standards, for the Tigers, it's quite some outlay, and for Butland, he won't want to play second fiddle, and nor should he.
Make no mistake about it, but Butland is a top-class goalkeeper. You don't play for England if you're average, and he's played an awful lot of games at the highest level, so his signing probably deserved more respect than some may have afforded it. He's had a brilliant career, and at his age, he can be considered in his prime by goalkeeping standards.
During pre-season so far, the 33-year-old has shown his quality. In the win over Rizespor, Butland made two or three outstanding stops to preserve the Tigers' second successive victory. As poor as Konyaspor were last weekend, he was alert to make a fine stop at a crucial point in the game. He's been an excellent addition to the group.
His barking of orders to those in front of him is also noticeable, and that level of experience is going to be absolutely crucial over the coming weeks. He's a big-game player, and the more of those at the manager's disposal, the better.
In his leaving interview, Ivor Pandur made it clear he had been told by the club that they were seeking to sign a number one, a player with Premier League experience. That's Butland, not Tzolakis! However, the Greek international has played at the top level, in the Champions League, and for his country, and the outlay on him suggests he will be Sergej Jakirovic's first choice.
Others were looked at this summer. Manchester United's Radek Vítek, who impressed on loan with Bristol City, is admired, and so, too, SC Braga's Lukáš Horníček, before all the eggs were placed in Tzolakis' basket, and they've worked hard to get him.
Dealing with Evangelos Marinakis isn't for the faint-hearted, but in Acun Ilicali, he's probably met his match, and after a move that has swayed this way and that, they've finally got the Greek shipping magnate's seal of approval after Stefan Orgtega made his move to Piraeus. That switch of the ex-Manchester City and Nottingham Forest stopper released Tzolakis to complete his move and tick off the goalkeeping department box. It is a coup, albeit one that has cost them a pretty penny and a sizeable chunk of their transfer budget.
You wouldn't expect City to part with the best part of £20m over the duration of his four-year deal (potentially five with his option year) for him to come and sit on the bench. He'll expect to come in and play. Butland, however, will have something to say about that. He's not going to want to drop down from Scotland and be number two.
