'What I know' - Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic offers update on pursuit of Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey
Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic has issued an update on the pursuit of Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey
Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic has revealed the proposed deal to sign Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey is currently off.
There have been plenty of twists and turns in the pursuit of the 29-year-old Jamaica international, who has slipped down the pecking order in the Midlands.
Hull have appeared close to striking a deal at various stages and it was recently indicated progress had been made following fresh talks with Tigers owner Acun Ilicali.
Hull City boss issues Leon Bailey update
However, Bailey is still a Villa player and Jakirovic has described the situation as a “mess”.
He told BBC Radio Humberside: “I don’t know, right now, what’s happening there. It is a little bit, I think, [a] mess.
“I can say it like this. If we need to beg somebody to join us, to play for Hull City [in the] Premier League, it’s better to stay, don’t come.
“If you don’t feel this club, that you can help us, that you can sacrifice for the team - not just Leon Bailey, I speak now overall in general. It’s better to stay with your club and we will try to find somebody else.
“What I know today - it’s off. But also, it was off three weeks ago and it was again on [later].”
Hull City’s transfer challenge
Bailey is evidently a player Hull admire but the club cannot afford to waste too much time chasing unattainable targets. Jakirovic’s men are due to kick off their Premier League campaign against Manchester United in less than two weeks’ time.
Whether Bailey can be placed in the unattainable category, however, remains to be seen.
Hull have also been linked with Millwall’s Femi Azeez, who could be an alternative option if the deal for Bailey proves impossible to do.