Leeds United legend Marcelo Bielsa loved the defender, who could finally return to Hull City after exiting Bulgarian top flight outfit CSKA Sofia.
Hull City have endured a difficult time in the summer transfer window market, given the financial restraints on the club as a result of Acun Ilicali’s ownership.
Hull were given a three-window transfer ban earlier this summer after failing to pay Aston Villa a £1m loan fee for Louie Barry, who featured only four times on loan at the Tigers before his season concluded due to injury.
As a result, Hull are unable to sign players permanently with a transfer fee involved, limiting the Tigers to free agents and loan signings in Sergej Jakirovic’s first weeks in charge.
Therefore, one former Leeds United stalwart would be the perfect addition at the MKM Stadium, after he made a bold decision over his footballing future.
Liam Cooper (R) celebrates after Hull City vs Leeds United in the Sky Bet Championship
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images
Hull City should sign former Leeds United defender Liam Cooper
The Tigers have already signed two central defenders this summer. Hull signed Semi Ajayi after his West Brom exit, which followed Hull’s move for Akin Famewo, who left Sheffield Wednesday amid the Owls’ financial turmoil.
Now, an opportunity has presented itself to Hull after former Leeds skipper Liam Cooper became available as a free agent, following his exit from Bulgarian outfit CSKA Sofia.
33-year-old Cooper’s contract was terminated “by mutual agreement” after 27 appearances for Sofia.
CSKA Sofia’s website read: “Liam Cooper is no longer part of CSKA. The club and the defender have terminated their contractual relationship by mutual consent.”
Club name Liam Cooper appearances
Hull City 16
Chesterfield 80
Leeds United 284
CSKA Sofia 27
Liam Cooper’s career appearances for permanent clubs
The Scotsman joined Sofia after his almost ten-year association with the Elland Road outfit came to an emotional conclusion, and his experience in English football would be a brilliant addition to the Tigers’ squad.
After centre-back Alfie Jones left Hull for Middlesbrough, Jakirovic would benefit from further reinforcements at the heart of defence, and a move would see the player who Marcelo Bielsa adored finally return to the MKM Stadium.
Sergej Jakirovic, Head Coach of Hull City looks on
Photo by Tony King/Getty Images
Liam Cooper can finally return to Hull City after last move collapsed
Before his switch to CSKA Sofia, Hull were keen to re-sign Cooper last summer, but the deal collapsed.
After beginning his senior career with the Tigers, Cooper made 16 first-team appearances between 2008 and 2021 amid loan stints with Carlisle United and Huddersfield Town.
Cooper told Leeds Live on the failed Hull return: “Things were getting a lot closer. And then finally, at the last minute, the deal changed – so that was it for me, really.
“The deal changed last minute, and I was out. I just said, ‘No, I can’t do that,’, and I walked away from it. It was close, but as soon as the deal changed, that was me out of there.”
Cooper joined Leeds in 2014 from Chesterfield, and went on to cement himself as an Elland Road legend by making 284 appearances for the Whites and playing a pivotal role in their promotion to the Premier League.
As quoted by the Daily Mail, former Leeds manager Bielsa said of Cooper: “Cooper is a huge part of this club… I’m referring to the patrimony between him and the institution.
“Institutions are bigger when they have patrimonies like this, when they have someone who behaves in an impeccable manner, as Cooper does.”
With 17 years of experience under his belt, Cooper boasts the battle scars needed to survive in the Championship, with his ability to do the glossy and gritty sides of the modern game equally well.
Given Hull’s financial constraints, the departure of Jones, and the availability of an emotional Cooper return, the Tigers’ transfer team should look no further than the Leeds icon as a potential central defensive recruit.