Norwood delay sums up Hull City's growing frustrations in the transfer market

MANAGER Nigel Adkins has revealed Hull City have 'offers on the table for three or four players' as the countdown continues to next week's closure of the transfer window.
Northern Ireland's Ollie Norwood: Hull have reportedly had a second bid rejected for Brighton midfielder.Northern Ireland's Ollie Norwood: Hull have reportedly had a second bid rejected for Brighton midfielder.
Northern Ireland's Ollie Norwood: Hull have reportedly had a second bid rejected for Brighton midfielder.

The Tigers have to wait to kick off their season thanks to Sky having selected the opening game at home to Aston Villa for live broadcast on Monday night.

Adkins has had to be similarly patient in terms of Hull’s recruitment this summer, with more than two weeks having passed since the last of his half-dozen signings was made.

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He wants another three or four new faces, with former Huddersfield Town midfielder Oliver Norwood one of those long-standing targets.

Norwood’s Brighton & Hove Albion team-mate Jiri Skalak, another who Adkins had targeted, yesterday signed for Millwall to underline the need for Hull to push on with their own attempts to bring new faces to the KCOM Stadium.

“That is what we need to do,” said the Tigers’ chief when asked about potential signings. “That is the top and bottom of it. I know the club is working hard behind the scenes.

“But until they are actually signed and over the line they are not done. We are just waiting on responses to bids that are in.”

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Pressed on the likelihood of an addition or two being made before Monday’s return to the East Riding by Villa chief Steve Bruce, Adkins added: “We will have to wait and see. I was in (Wednesday) late into the night and maybe I am speaking to a player today. We are working hard to make things happen and improve the group we have got for the benefit of the group as well.

Positive: Hull City manager Nigel Adkins (Picture: PA)Positive: Hull City manager Nigel Adkins (Picture: PA)
Positive: Hull City manager Nigel Adkins (Picture: PA)

“I have to control my frustrations because that won’t get us anywhere, I keep knocking on the door every day and asking the questions.”

Sources on the south coast suggest Hull have had a second bid for Norwood rejected this week due to it not meeting the Premier League club’s valuation of the Northern Ireland international. An earlier offer had been for both Norwood and Skalak.

Asked about a midfielder with whom he worked at Reading, Adkins replied: “He is obviously an international player, he is at a good age, he has got an unbelievable range of passing, he can run all day and he has got a fantastic character.