It's been a little over two years since Hull City tried to strike a deal with Nottingham Forest for defender Harry Toffolo, and this summer they should rekindle that interest.
City launched an ambitious, and some would say, audacious bid to bring in the left-back just a few months after he arrived at Forest along with Lewis O'Brien - a player of previous interest to the Tigers - following their play-off final win at Wembley over Huddersfield Town.
Their previous loan offer late in the January window was accepted by the Reds, but Toffolo rejected the chance to move to City having only recently made the step up to the Premier League. Instead, the ex-Terriers' ace opted to remain in the East Midlands and fight for his place despite interest from Anderlecht.
Since then, Toffolo has rarely featured for Forest and has largely been used as a valuable member of Nuno Espírito Santo's squad. This term, the 29-year-old has made just four appearances in the Premier League, though he did start the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City at Wembley in late April.
Since leaving the John Smith's Stadium in the summer of 2022, Toffolo has played 57 times for Forest, scoring once and clocking up four assists.
His City Ground contract is up this summer, and so far, there has been no suggestion he will be offered fresh terms to remain in the East Midlands and with him turning 30 in August, going to play regularly elsewhere could well be high on his agenda.
A hugely popular figure in the dressing room and around the club for the work he does in the community, Toffolo would represent a huge signing for City. While there is no suggestion at this stage that a move is likely, he's a player who would make the squad infinitely better.
Left-back has been a major problem for City for a number of seasons and remains so going into this pivotal summer campaign. The Tigers ended the season with central defender Sean McLoughlin playing out of position there and doing a sterling job.
Matty Jacob wasn't fancied by Ruben Selles and is wanted by Bolton Wanderers along with a couple of other clubs, while Ryan Giles has not had a happy time of it since his loan move was made permanent 12 months ago. Giles could yet have a future at the MKM Stadium, but City are also open to cashing in on a player they paid £4m for.
Selles wanted Charlie Taylor and Callum O'Dowda in January, but neither happened, and sorting out the left-back area will be one of the key jobs facing incoming boss Sergej Yakirovic.
Though Toffolo would be a free transfer, his wages could present City with a problem, given he's been earning Premier League money over the past three years, but that may not be an insurmountable problem given the Tigers' wage structure.
Doing a deal would not be easy for City, and Toffolo may take some convincing to return to Yorkshire and, indeed, drop back into the Championship, but they know all about his strengths and what a top signing he would be for anyone in this league. They've pulled off stellar, unlikely signings in recent windows, and there's no reason why they can't aim high once again.
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