Leeds United will be looking for Yorkshire bragging rights over Premier League newcomers Hull City this summer, as the Tigers aim to make their presence felt in the transfer market.
United are in a strong position this summer after avoiding relegation in our first Premier League season back. This summer is about further consolidation by improving our squad even more under the 49ers.
Elsewhere, there should be one eye kept on what our newly-promoted rivals are up to. Leeds and Sunderland proved that it’s not wise to rest on your laurels as one of the other 17 clubs.
Hull City targeting ambitious Everton transfer plot – £20m-rated Tim Iroegbunam in view
Leeds will have more Yorkshire representation in the Premier League next season after Hull City’s shock promotion via the playoffs. The reason for it being a shock was the overwhelming expectation that Sergej Jakirovic’s side would be joining Sheffield Wednesday in propping up the division.
However, shrewd free transfers and loan business allowed Jakirovic a squad capable of sneaking up at Wembley.
As we wait for Hull’s verdict on signing Joe Gelhardt permanently from Elland Road, the Tigers have other plans in mind.
Hull Live are reporting that the Tigers are eyeing Everton midfielder Tim Iroegbunam on a permanent deal this summer. Interestingly, they are willing to pay a whopping £20million to sign the combative 22-year-old.
Iroegbunam, due to turn 23 next week, only has a year left on his deal, but could cost the newly-promoted team a club record fee.
Paying a club-record fee for Tim Iroegbunam says a lot about Leeds United’s rivals Hull City
You don’t want to count chickens too early on our Premier League relegation rivals. We all expected that Brentford would be down the bottom, only to narrowly miss out on Europe in the end.
Recruitment is going to be the difference between Hull, Ipswich Town, and Coventry City having any chance of staying up.
That said, setting aside £20million for Iroegbunam would be a surprising misuse of Hull’s funds. He’s a very, very strong option without the ball, getting stuck in and breaking up play better than most. Beyond that, he’s so limited.
Of course, the Tigers are expecting to have less of the ball, but to spend more on someone like him than we did on Anton Stach is alarming from the outside looking in. There’s plenty of potential for him to develop, but you could easily get better for less, without doubt.
Hull’s head of recruitment expects a £100million budget. Spending a large chunk of it on Iroegbunam does the Tigers no favours unless they follow it with some serious bargains too. They’re capable of a bargain, though, as they were forced to find them in 2025 when barred from paying fees for signings.
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