So far this season, Hull City have surpassed all expectations. They currently find themselves 9th in the Championship table after eighteen games played.
As the January transfer window approaches, Sergej Jakirovic will want to bolster his squad to give his side the best chance possible of securing a playoff spot. Unfortunately, they are still only able to sign free agents (hence why their preseason expectations were so low).
Only Coventry City have scored more goals than Hull City so far this season. However, only Sheffield Wednesday have conceded more goals.
Ivor Pandur has only kept three clean sheets, so bringing in some higher quality competition could well be sensible. Forster hasn’t been able to find a club since departing Tottenham Hotspur at the end of last season.
The 37-year-old would be a strong veteran for Pandur to learn from.
Yes, you read that correctly. Former Real Madrid and Manchester United fullback Sergio Reguilon.
Hull only have two recognised left backs in their squad, Ryan Giles and Brandon Williams. It is being reported that Williams could be sold or released despite only signing in the summer.
If this were to materialize, the Tigers would need to replace him. Reguilon has struggled for consistent game time since 2022, being loaned out to Atletico Madrid, Manchester United and Brentford.
How likely is this move? Not very.
But the demand for the Spaniard doesn’t seem to be high or surely, he would’ve found a club by now. Furthermore, the free agent left back market doesn’t provide too many players who I can see playing in the Championship anytime soon.
But at least Reguilon has played in England before. Charlton Athletic recently shocked everyone by signing former Wolfsburg left back Jerome Roussillon so you never know.
Technically not a free agent currently, Jairo Riedewald’s contract with Sheffield United is up in January. It’s being reported that there is interest in the Dutchman from several clubs across Europe following his impressive performances at Bramall Lane during the first half of the season.
Should Riedewald become available, Hull City could certainly do worse. A move to the MKM Stadium could be of interest to the 29-year-old given the fact that Hull sit nine points ahead of his current employers.
Joe Gelhardt has been fantastic for Hull so far this season, registering 11 goal contributions in 18 league appearances. But if he were to get injured, Duncan Watmore would be a capable backup.
Watmore has been linked to Sheffield Wednesday but that move looks like it has fallen through, with the Owls recently announcing the signing of fellow free agent Nathan Redmond. The 31-year-old most recently played for Millwall but has been without a club since the end of last season.
Oli McBurnie was one of the signings of the season before his injury in October. The Scotsman made an electric start to the campaign, scoring six goals and providing three assists in ten Championship games.
Although McBurnie is likely to be back soon, I think that Benteke would be good enough to provide competition to McBurnie but also start should the 29-year-old get injured again. Benteke recently announced his departure from MLS side D.C. United.
He might be 35, but the Belgian still knows where the net is. During his time in the States, Benteke scored 49 goals in 100 games.
After all, who wouldn’t want to see Benteke back in English football?
