Hull City are facing up to what looks like being a frantic few weeks of transfer chatter and speculation as Acun Ilicali bids to arm Sergej Jakirovic with a squad capable of making the step up from the Championship to the Premier League.
One player high up on their extensive wish list is Everton midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, with the Toffees understood to be willing to allow the 22-year-old to leave this summer, providing the price is right and City keen to bring him to the MKM Stadium.
The ex-West Brom and Aston Villa youngster has just one year left on his Merseyside contract, and was linked with a move away in the January window, which makes City's bargaining position a strong one.
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To get the lowdown on the former England Under-19 international, we had a chat with Liverpool Echo sports editor Paul Wheelock, and here's what he had to say....
**How would you describe Tim as a player?**A promising young midfielder who still has his rough edges but has a high ceiling if those rough edges can be polished and his potential reached.**What's his biggest strength?**His athleticism - he can really get about the pitch - but I would say his ball-carrying and his ability to turn out of trouble. Also, his mentality. He suffered a really disappointing day at home to Newcastle back in November and was rightly replaced at half-time. But a few days later, he was excellent in a win at Bournemouth. That said a lot about his character. He was also superb against Manchester City towards the end of the campaign. That showed he can cut it against the best.**And now about the weaknesses?**End product. Too often, he could brilliantly carry the ball 20 yards up the pitch, but then his pass or shot would let him down. But it mustn’t be forgotten he is only 22 and he’s just coming off the back of what really was his first full season as a Premier League player.**Where does he need to improve?**The above, really. If he can get his technical attributes closer to his physical ones, then he would be quite the all-round midfielder.He seems like a player with real potentialWithout question. Everton began truly to see that potential last season, but it is an area of pitch where they have two undisputed starters - James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - and a clutch of other young midfielders who also have promise.Davie Moyes was quite complimentary about him in the final weeks of the season, having given him a real run in the side, but didn't rule out him going…I think that may have been because of the above but the fact that Everton are also seriously interested in Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney could well have something to do with Moyes being non-committal over Iroegbunam's future. But he’s a fan.**How keen do you think Everton would be in letting him go?**Even if Idrissa Gueye doesn’t sign a new contract, Everton have five players who can play in central midfield - Garner, Dewsbury-Hall, Carlos Alcaraz, Harrison Armstrong and Merlin Rohl. They want Hackney, and there’s still a train of thought that if Gueye leaves, a No.6 is required too. So there are plenty of options. Also, if £20m is the fee, doubling their money on Iroegbunam would represent good business, allowing the club to say, pay for Hackney, if that deal can be done, or addressing the areas of more pressing concern in the squad, particularly at full-back.Any other business?
I think this is a transfer Everton would reluctantly sanction. It does make a lot of sense but there is a chance it could be one they, regret may be too strong a word, but certainly have second thoughts about if he can kick on at Hull. If he does join the Tigers, he'd go with the best wishes of Evertonians.
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