Hull City manager Sergej Jakirović reveals the Premier League side are looking at the Croatian market this summer.
The Tigers secured promotion to the top flight and are working on reshaping their squad.
Last week, Hull City parted ways with sporting director Jared Dublin.
The latest claims from the UK states the English club are closing in on appointing Okan Özkan as his successor.
Hull City manager on Dublin’s departure
Germanijak spoke to Sergej Jakirović at length on several topics related to Hull City and their plans for this summer.
The manager refused to discuss Jared Dublin’s exit, a decision made by Hull City owner Acun Ilıcalı.
“The owner made the decision. I won’t go into the reasons and details,” he said.
“Okan Özkan came, whom the owner knows from Fenerbahçe, where he was assistant to Mario Branca for four years, and then worked in Poland.
“We are working quickly. We talked, I said what I need, which players and positions, and as a coach I hope that he will bring me better players than the ones I am looking for.”
Identifies 3 targets for Hull City
Sergej Jakirović says HNK Rijeka’s Toni Fruk, Hajduk Split’s Rokas Pukštas and Orlando City’s Marco Pašalić are all targets for Hull City.
The manager, however, ruled out a move for Dinamo Zagreb’s Arbër Hoxha this summer.
“There are some players we’ve already had talks with, but the new situation has changed some things. The new guy has new ideas, his own contacts, and maybe he’ll bring in better players,” Jakirović explained.
“For example, from the HNL we’ve put Toni Fruk and Rokas Pukštas on the list. This time we’re not going for Hoxha, whom I wanted earlier. And Marco Pašalić is an option for the right wing. I like to say that these are players I trust completely.
“But that doesn’t mean I’d bring someone just because we know each other and we’re from the same country. Absolutely not. In general, the club hierarchy is respected and there needs to be consensus in the club for every name. We’ll see.”
Ivor Pandur’s sale to Rangers
On June 30th, Hull City sold their Ivor Pandur to Rangers. The Croatian goalkeeper was their first choice for the last two seasons, but the Tigers still sold him.
Sergej Jakirović explains what forced Hull City to sell Pandur to Rangers for a reported fee of €7m.
“On the one hand I’m sorry, on the other hand I’m glad for him because he got good terms and it’s not a small thing to defend for Rangers,” he addded.
“We had to sell him because he was hanging over our head because of financial fair play and a potential loss of six points. I wish him the best of luck and let him continue on this path”.