Under the management of Liam Rosenior and stewardship of Acun Ilicali, the Tigers’ transfer business has often been well-documented, a pattern that most likely won’t change ahead of next season, regardless of what division the club find themselves in.
The 39-year-old has proved to be extremely meticulous when it comes to moulding a squad together. Therefore, some players will most likely depart East Yorkshire in the coming weeks for the final time, potentially alongside the likes of star loanees Tyler Morton, Fabio Carvalho, Liam Delap et al.
With that being said, FLW looks at those who could move on after the last game of the season.
Óscar Estupiñán
Ñscar Estupiñán, who joined City on a free transfer under Shota Arveladze in 2022, scored seven goals in his first six league games, including a hat-trick in a 3-2 victory over Coventry City, giving the impression that he was the solution to the team’s goal-scoring woes the previous season.
But even after Rosenior’s appointment in November 2022, the Colombian’s form blew hot and cold for the rest of the season, only managing six more goals. The forward was going to depart the club, according to The Sun, even though he was the classic ‘fox in the box’ and wasn’t the right fit for Rosenior’s style.
Estupiñán, whose goal-scoring prowess has somewhat returned, is currently on loan with Brazilian team Bahia until the summer after an injury-plagued loan spell at FC Metz in the first half of the season.
Bahia reportedly has a £3 million option to purchase in the summer, so it wouldn’t be shocking if the 27-year-old was off the pitch for a profit just two years after coming to the team.
Doğukan Sinik
Every club is prone to the odd slip-up in the transfer window. Unfortunately, in terms of City, Doğukan Sinik personifies that.
Again, there was a lot of excitement over his anticipated £3 million transfer from Antalyaspor in 2022, but the winger hasn’t been able to settle into the English leagues.
After sustaining a calf injury weeks after arriving, Sinik made just two starts in 12 games for Hull. He later returned to his former club on loan, still battling to regain strength and agility.
The fact that the six-time Turkiye international’s only appearance of the season lasted 22 minutes in a 3-0 loss against Ipswich Town in October sums up his time at the club, despite Rosenior and Ilicali’s belief that his luck will alter this term.
Cyrus Christie
Cyrus Christie was an astute addition, once again in the same summer as the aforementioned Sinik and Estupiñán.
After numerous seasons under his belt as a Championship player, the full-back was impressive throughout his first season in Black and Amber, registering three goals and one assist in just 28 league appearances, including two sublime finishes against Rotherham United and Cardiff City.
However, this season, the former Fulham man has often been deployed as a squad player, making just 12 appearances behind club captain Lewie Coyle – often being brought on to see out narrow victories.
Whilst Christie does offer a breadth of second tier experience, it could be likely that he departs in the summer, with Rosenior perhaps looking for a younger option in the same position.
Greg Docherty
One player that Hull has overlooked is Greg Docherty, especially since the arrival of more technical midfielders like Ozan Tufan and Jean Michaël Seri.
The Scottish midfielder played a key role in both City’s League One championship-winning season and their inaugural season back in the Championship, with ten goals in the former of the two campaigns.
Even though this season he has been used more as an impact substitute, Docherty’s dedication to the cause has never wavered, despite his limited playing time.
But if Hull is to go further in the upcoming season, it is a brutal fact of football that a player like the 27-year-old might leave at the conclusion of his contract, particularly given that League One teams like Charlton Athletic had previously expressed interest in him.
Ryan Longman
Like Docherty, it appears like Longman might also be moved on come summertime, even though he first helped with two seasons of consolidation.
With one year remaining on his present contract, Hull may still be able to obtain some money for the winger’s signature, despite the fact that he has been on loan with Millwall this season and has had moments of brilliance, none more so than his winner against Leicester City.
Longman has made a name for himself at The Den as a consistent Championship performer, but it will take a very special set of circumstances for him to displace players like Jaden Philogene as Rosenior’s starting lineup anytime soon.
Jason Lokilo
Lokilo was only acquired from Sparta Rotterdam in the summer of last year, but despite making 21 appearances across all competitions before joining FC Vizela on loan in Portugal in January, he fell short of expectations.
Given the squad depth needed in modern sport, it might seem somewhat absurd for City to let go of both Longman and Lokilo. But the winger didn’t score his first goal in Black and Amber until January, and the Dutchman’s form hasn’t impressed either since he joined the bottom team in Liga Portugal.
In the off-season, Rosenior will undoubtedly have to make a choice about the former Doncaster Rovers player.
Ryan Woods
Ryan Woods’ career at Hull City has been in serious trouble for a while now; he hasn’t played for the team since April of last year.
After not being included in Rosenior’s plans for the entire season, the central midfielder has also stated his desire to remain in Devon. As a result, there is very little chance that he will ever don the Black and Amber again, even after becoming an integral part of Gary Caldwell’s midfield for the Grecians after a miserable loan at Bristol Rovers.
“I still have a year left at Hull, but I’m sure I’ll sit down with them and discuss what they and I want to do going forward. Next, we’ll proceed from there.
