--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-07-25T07:31:02.527Z last_updated: 2026-07-23T12:40:40+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/hull-city/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaHVsbGRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9zcG9ydC9mb290YmFsbC90cmFuc2Zlci1uZXdzL2RlY29kaW5nLWh1bGwtY2l0eS1vd25lci1hY3VuLTExMDczNTQ3 --- # Decoding Hull City owner Acun Ilicali’s cryptic transfer message - **Source:** - **Published:** 23 Jul - **Club:** Hull City - **Original URL:** https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/decoding-hull-city-owner-acun-11073547 City announced Matt Targett as their third signing on Thursday morning, joining Jack Butland and Oscar Zambrano, and it's expected that Japan international Morita will arrive in Slovenia in the next 48 hours. The Tigers are also in talks with a host of players, with Ilicali attaching the national flag of each player, along with a percentage sign of how far down the line the deal is. JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest Hull City news and analysis on our Hull Live FB page Hull Live reported on Thursday that the club were close to a deal with Orlando City for Marco Palasic, while a deal for Olympiacos goalkeeper Tzolakis and Swedish wing-back Elliot Stroud remains close. City remain in discussions with French side Auxerre over a deal for Kevin Danois, in what would almost certainly take a club record transfer agreement surpassing the £13.2m they paid in 2016 to sign Ryan Mason from Tottenham Hotspur. We can also reveal that despite speculation elsewhere, City will not be making a move for Rennes and Switzerland striker Breel Embolo at this time due to the player's wage demands, which would shatter City's wage structure significantly. Taking to social media, Ilicali wrote; "Dear Hull City family," the City owner wrote on social media. "We are reading dozens of false transfer rumours in many places. "We are disturbed by the claims that we have been rejected and by the use of our club's name to gain attention. We have been working intensively for two months. "I believe we will build a team that we will all be proud of. To prevent false speculation and to give you more information, I am leaving you with our latest transfer situation, which includes some clues." The City owner then proceeded to list 11 signings the club are working on with a percentage given next to the flag for each player's country, insinuating how close City are to getting each deal done. Here we detail who we believe each of the deals are that Ilicali has teased, many of which have already been revealed by Hull Live, as above. Japan 99% = Hidemasa Morita Portugal 80% = Unknown Greece 90% = Konstantinos Tzolakis Senegal 70% = Unknown, believed to be a forward Australia 80% = Unknown Sweden 90% = Elliot Stroud France 70% = Kevin Danois Japan 60% = Kodai Sano Croatia 80% = Marco Palasic Jamaica 70% = Leon Bailey Turkey/Germany 70% = Unknown Hull Live are the only English media with City during every step of their pre-season tour, and you can follow all our updates in print and online. Here at Hull Live , we are dedicated to bringing you the best Hull City coverage and analysis. Make sure you don't miss out on the latest City news by joining our free WhatsApp group.