Hull City in the market for a new right back
With Hull City's retained list signalling the end of Cyrus Christie's time in East Yorkshire, it seems inevitable that Acun Ilıcalı will be in the market for a right back this summer.
Christie's two seasons in black and amber came to a disappointing end with the Irishman playing just 82 minutes in 2024 owing to a mix of poor form and injury problems.
With starting right back Lewie Coyle suffering fitness issues of his own, the eventual arrival will have to be a strong deputy capable of stepping up when needed.
The ideal option
As unglamorous as poaching from relegated sides may seem, Birmingham City's Ethan Laird is a player simply too good for England's third tier.
The Englishman made 25 appearances for the Blues last season, ranking as the third best right back in the league according to WhoScored. A glance at Laird's stats for last season depicts a player just as comfortable starting attacks as he is stopping them.
Ethan Laird Championship stats 2023/24 | Total per 90 | Percentile rank* |
|---|---|---|
Progressive carries | 3.28 | 92nd |
Successful take-ons | 1.34 | 89th |
Tackles | 3.02 | 95th |
Interceptions | 1.90 | 96th |
Aerials won | 2.89 | 99th |
*Rank vs fullbacks in comparable leagues
Laird is among one of the finest tacklers in the division and a serial duel winner in the air. With the likely permanent arrival of Ryan Giles giving the Tigers an attacking full back on the left, having a capable defender on the opposite flank would be a smart move.
At just 22-years of age, Laird already has three full seasons of Championship football under his belt with spells at Swansea, QPR and the aforementioned Birmingham. Nailed on for a move away from St Andrews, Laird will not be short of second division suitors.
Whilst Laird's transfermarkt value stands at around £2.5million, it will likely take a greater sum to secure his services this summer. If there is any truth in Ilıcalı giving Hull's next manager a 'war chest' to recruit new players, there are few better places to look than a proven talent like Laird.
The value option
If Ethan Laird's price tag proves too steep for the Tigers then they should look no further than his former Birmingham teammate Cody Drameh.
Having spent the season on loan with the blues, the 22-year-old looks set to leave parent club Leeds United when his contract expires. Requiring a compensation payment due to his age, Drameh would still be a bargain for whichever side picks him up this summer.
When compared to Lewie Coyle, Drameh eclipses the Hull captain on the attacking front. Boasting superior numbers in regard to assists and successful-take ons, Drameh also exceeds Coyle's output in defence.
As happy a deputy as he is a starter, Drameh would be the perfect backup if Coyle is still seen as first choice going into next season. If Ilıcalı is keen to spend big elsewhere on the pitch, the 22-year-old is among the most capable free agents on the market.
The sensible option
With the 22-year-old already linked with a move to the MKM Stadium, Bryan Reynolds is the favoured candidate to fill the void at right back. The USA international has been on the Tiger's radar for some time and this summer seems the perfect opportunity for Ilıcalı to pull the trigger.
After managing just six league appearances during a two year spell with Roma, Reynolds has found his form at KVC Westerlo. The fullback has nine assists to his name during his time with the Belgian outfit, making him a perfect fit for a more attacking style of play.
Despite playing as a right back, Reynolds acts as his team's engine with almost everything going through the 22-year-old. The American is also able to back up his impressive creative output with a strong showing on the defensive front.
Total | Westerlo Squad Rank | |
|---|---|---|
Assists | 2 | =1st |
Progressive carries | 69 | 1st |
Carries into final 1/3 | 52 | 1st |
Progressive passes | 127 | 2nd |
Tackles | 54 | 2nd |
With Reynolds attracting interest at home and abroad, it could be Ilıcalı's relationship with Turkish businessman and Westerlo owner Oktay Ercan that swings the deal in the Tiger's favour. After Allahyar Sayyadmanesh made the move to the Belgian side in January, there is clearly an appetite for the clubs to do business together.
The wildcard option
Bright Osayi-Samuel could be the wildcard candidate in Hull City's quest for a new right back. Definitely on the attacking side of the full back scale, bringing the 26-year-old to East Yorkshire would still be a strong addition to the Tigers' squad.
Most recently plying his trade at Fenerbahce, Osayi-Samuel also has spells at QPR and Blackpool on his CV. With 109 Championship appearances under his belt, a return to the second tier would not be an unusual move for the Nigerian international.
Despite racking up 6 goals and 13 assists across 138 appearances for Fenerbahce, Osayi-Samuel's time in Türkiye ended on a low. The 26-year-old was involved in an altercation with Trabzonspor fans during a fixture back in March. The ordeal concluded with Osayi-Samuel's contract being terminated and the fullback looking for a new club.
A return to England now looks on the cards for Osayi-Samuel with clubs across the countries' top two divisions keeping tabs on the defender. Unfortunately, the pull of the Premiership will likely prove too much for the Nigerian with even Ilıcalı's Fenerbahce links probably not enough to get the deal over the line.
Comments