It was a record-breaking transfer window in the Premier League as the total spending reached £1.165bn. For the first time in history, £1bn mark was crossed in the Premier League and £155m spent on the deadline day took the figures to a whooping £1.165bn. With each and every club splashing money for fun to reinforce their squad as much as they can, it was a major shock to see newly-promoted side Hull City not spending a single penny until 30th August.
However, Hull City completed as many as six signings on the final two days on the transfer window. They were incredibly late with their business. As they say, ‘better late than never’! So, how well did the Tigers manage to bolster their squad this summer? Let us do a quick review.
Ins
Ryan Mason – Tottenham, £13m
Will Keane – Manchester United, £3m
Dieumerci Mbokani – Dynamo Kiev, loan
Markus Henriksen – AZ Alkmaar, loan
David Marshall – Cardiff, £3.5m
James Weir – Manchester United, undisclosed
Fees quoted from Sky Sports
Outs
Mohamed Diame – Newcastle, £4.5m
Max Clark – Cambridge, loan
Ben Clappison – York, free
Sone Aluko – released
Ryan Taylor – released
Calaum Jahraldo-Martin – Oldham, free
Fees quoted from Sky Sports
What Hull Managed to bring in
Hull City started their Premier League season with just 13 fit senior players and still managed to get a winning start, that too against Premier League holders Leicester City. They kept up their good run with a strong win against Swansea and almost secured one point against mighty Manchester United. Even though the Toffees looked short on both numbers and quality in almost every area, there is a togetherness among the players. Hull retained the core of their squad for a long time and apart from Diame, no one else has moved out. They were quite strong as a unit and they proved it.
Ryan Mason is a quality signing from the Tigers while young striker Will Keane can some handy in the long run. While Mason brings a wealth of creativity and industry in midfield, Keane is a young forward with a big future ahead of him. Both represent brilliant business from the Tigers. Norwegian international Markus Henriksen adds a wealth of creativity and goalscoring threat in midfield while James Weir is another promising midfielder Hull City managed to sign. With first-choice keeper Allan McGregor out with a lengthy injury, the Tigers signed a quality and experienced keeper in David Marshall which is another solid addition.
What is still missing
Hull could have utilised the transfer window in a better manner. However, we do understand that the Humberside club are happy with the squad they had and did not intend to lose the team chemistry. Most of the players are at the club for quite a long time and had played for the club in the Premier League in the 2014-15 season. They did not lose the core of the squad after their relegation. Huddlestone, Livermore, Hernandez, Davies, Dawson all are quality players, so, the relatively less activity from the Tigers was understandable. But with each and every Premier League club breaking the bank, they should have shown more a bit more ambition.
Remarks
We would give Hull City five out of ten for their business.
