Hull City are said to be confident in their pursuit of Leicester City winger Kasey McAteer, according to a report from Hull Live.
The Tigers narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season as they finished seventh, just three points off Norwich City. The disappointing finish saw Liam Rosenior sacked and replaced by German manager Tim Walter. The upcoming season provides Hull with another chance at promotion, however, they have lost many of the vital figures that saw them just miss out on a place in the top six.
The most notable departure was Jaden Philogene, who returned to Aston Villa for a fee of around £18 million this summer. The winger excelled at the MKM Stadium, picking up 12 goals and six assists. Similarly, Jacob Greaves has also left for Premier League new-boys Ipswich Town whilst Fábio Carvalho has also returned to Liverpool after his short-term loan.
The East-Yorkshire-based side have brought in Ryan Giles from Luton Town as one of their only signings. The new arrival also didn’t take up much of the budget, leaving more for new reinforcements centred around his playstyle.
As a result of needing a new attacker, links to Kasey McAteer have emerged. Journalist Darren Witcoop reported on the interest from Hull and also Cardiff City, along with stating that the attacker appeared in a pre-season friendly for the Foxes against Shrewsbury Town. He would also go on to appear in another friendly that same week against Palermo as a substitute. In this latest update regarding his situation by Hull Live, the club are said to be confident they can secure his signature.
McAteer had an impressive first full season with his boyhood club as he found the net on six occasions. His stats all season would impress manager Enzo Maresca as he finished in the top 5% of wingers in the league for XG per 90 at 0.47 and in the top 20 percentile for his progressive passes at 9.40 per 90.
However, with new manager Steve Cooper coming in, the future of the 22-year-old is currently undetermined. The former Nottingham Forest boss has already completed the signings of wingers Abdul Fatawu and Bobby De Cordova-Reid, and the club is also said to be pursuing Matias Soule. As a result, McAteer’s role for the upcoming season may be limited and could lead to a loan.
Writer’s View
Overall, this is a necessary move for all parties. Hull desperately needs a winger and McAteer fills the role they need whilst also being a versatile option to play as an attacking midfielder, similar to Fábio Carvalho.
As for the 22-year-old, this is an opportunity for him to impress in the second tier as his contract runs out in 2025. A successful loan spell could lead to a new contract or move within the league, which will propel his career. Therefore, this would be a good signing for the Tigers as they look to sign reinforcements ahead of their opening-day clash with Bristol City at the MKM Stadium.