A transfer window which had rather been quite sluggish for Hull City looks a bit better now having announced the signings of Ryan Mason, David Marshall and Will Keane. It might still not be a window to remember, but the late drama could well have ensured that they end the transfer period with a balanced team at their disposal.
David Marshall was the first to make a move to the KCOM Stadium from Cardiff City for a transfer fee which is reported to be £3.5 million.
With Allan McGregor’s long-term back injury, the Scot has been roped in to provide a stern competition to Eldin Jakupović for being the first-choice goalkeeper of the side. Marshall brings truckloads of experience with him, having played 275 times for the Bluebirds and had been one of the prized assets for the Wales-based club. At 31, he is definitely in his peak years and will bolster Hull City’s goalkeeping stature.
Caretaker boss Mike Phelan then successfully persuaded Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, Ryan Mason, to join the Yorkshire based club. A record-breaking transfer fee was forked out for Mason, which is believed to be in the vicinity of £13 million. Mason joined the likes of Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore and Michael Dawson in swapping Spurs for Hull City.
Mason’s acquisition is much more than the Phelan’s need to fill his threadbare squad and out of the three signings, Mason’s incoming arguably holds the paramount importance.
Time and again, Mason has proved that he is an energetic player who holds the team together in the midfield, and is one of the sternest advocates of severely pressing the opponents. Rarely caught out of position, the 25-year-old never refrains from putting his attacking style of play on the tray, breaks forward effortlessly and his relentless aim to push the game forward assists in doing the damage in dangerous areas. To bring a bit of flair and edge in the midfield, the new commander-in-chief will have a major role to play in scripting the Tigers’ 2016-17 campaign.
He might not be a Mo Diame, but Mason brings a different skillset to the fore and the Hull fans might soon like him if he brings his A-game.
After falling down in the pecking order, Will Keane has taken up a three-year contract with Hull City with a supposed transfer fee of £3 million, thus terminating his relationship with Manchester United. The 23-year-old striker has earned plenty of experience with his loan spells to Wigan Athletic, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Preston North End and with the burning desire to prove a point along with bagging crucial first team opportunities, Keane will be quintessential in providing a venomous tooth to Phelan’s attacking setup. However, only time will tell if the three new faces are going to click in their new kits amidst the hostility and competitiveness of the English Premier League.
