Hull City have set out a contingency plan in case Ivor Pandur departs before Monday’s transfer deadline.
Interest from Middlesbrough, Leicester City and Werder Bremen has left the Tigers preparing alternatives while publicly maintaining a preference to keep last season’s Player of the Year.
Destanoglu on list as City weigh late-window realities
Hull Live report that Beşiktaş goalkeeper Ersin Destanoğlu is one option under consideration should a late bid land, although any approach is complicated by the Turkish club’s desire for a significant loan fee, a structure City cannot accommodate under current restrictions. The 24-year-old has featured just once this term, in a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier against Lausanne-Sport, but his profile fits the requirement for an athletic, penalty-area dominant stopper if a replacement becomes necessary.
Head coach Sergej Jakirović underlined the tightrope of the final hours. After reiterating that Pandur remains with the squad, Jakirović said:
“This is the reason why we need to be ready all the time, because you never know now until Monday who will go… if Ivor will go somewhere – I don’t know where, he’s still with us – we need to have another goalkeeper… We have our plans, but not everything depends on us. It’s also the wish of the player, the wish of the agent.”
City’s stance is pragmatic. Keeping Pandur preserves stability for a side balancing Financial Fair Play parameters and a busy early schedule, but the club have ensured alternatives are lined up in case market dynamics shift on deadline day.
From a squad-building perspective, City’s recruitment team have been consistent: protect core contributors, avoid forced sales, and act only if value and compliance align. That approach has carried through a summer of moving pieces, with Jakirović’s system reliant on security at the back and quick transitions through the middle third.
Any change in goal would therefore prioritise experience, command of the area and distribution under pressure, qualities Pandur has provided since arriving at the MKM Stadium.
Writer’s View
Hull City are playing the deadline exactly as they should, keeping Pandur front and centre while ensuring viable cover is ready if market pressure becomes irresistible. Destanoğlu is a sensible profile match, but fee mechanics and Beşiktaş’s shifting landscape make that route complex.
The cleanest outcome is retention, allowing Jakirović to preserve defensive continuity while other areas evolve. If an exit does materialise, expect a swift, tightly structured move that safeguards FFP headroom rather than a headline fee. The priority is stability first, opportunism second.
