Hull City finally stepped into the summer transfer window by making six deals all in the last couple of days. Mike Phelan may still be in temporary charge, however he is doing all he can to make sure the Tigers have the best chance of staying in the Premier League. Here is how the new signings will affect Hull this term.
David Marshall (Undisclosed fee from Cardiff City)
David Marshall is the newest member of the Scottish contingence at the KCOM as he joins Andy Robertson, Robert Snodgrass, Shaun Maloney and fellow ‘keeper Allan McGregor. With McGregor out with a long term back injury, Marshall will be battling it out with Bosnian stopper Eldin Jakupovic.
Marshall has Premier League experience from his time at the Bluebirds, in the 2013/2014 season. Marshall has been capped by Scotland 24 times after spending most of his career behind McGregor. This should be a good move for the Tigers as Marshall was regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in his only top flight stint.
Ryan Mason (£13m from Tottenham Hotspur)
Signing for a club record fee, beating the £10m deal that bought Abel Hernandez to the club, Ryan Mason joins another small group at the Tigers. He has joined former Spurs players Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore and Michael Dawson at the club. Of course, being bought for a club record fee will bring large amounts of pressure for Mason, but he only has one thing in mind.
"I want to justify the faith the club put in me," Mason said in a recent interview. He also hopes regular first team football and good performances will bring attention of new England manager Sam Allardyce as Mason looks to add to his one appearance for his country, from March 2015.
Mason will bring more energy and desire into the Hull midfield as well as some much needed depth at that position, especially as the same three have started every league game in the middle of the park this season.
Will Keane (Undisclosed fee from Manchester United)
Will Keane hardly saw any first team action at Manchester United and is now looking to get some Premier League experience in Hull. He has re-joined former United assistant manager, Phelan, at the club and says he was a major factor in joining the Tigers.
Keane has had many loan deals to Championship sides including Wigan, Preston North End and Sheffield Wednesday but is untested in the Premier League. Could go two ways this deal, a hidden gem or a complete bust. Only time will tell.
James Weir (Undisclosed fee from Manchester United)
James Weir, another United academy graduate and their Under 21s captain, joined on a three-year deal. He has one Premier League appearance to his name, as a substitute against Arsenal in February. Weir is seen as a project and not an immediate first team starter but, at the age of 21, he has plenty of time to mature into a Premier League starter. However, Weir says that ‘like any player my age, I want first team action.’
As with Mason, Weir also adds to the depth in midfield as he is predominantly a midfielder, but with defenders returning from injuries, Livermore can return to his normal position, meaning Weir will have to work hard to force his way into Phelan’s plans.
Dieumerci Mbokani (Season-long loan from Dynamo Kiev)
Dieumerci Mbokani had a somewhat successful loan spell at Norwich City last season in the top division, scoring seven times despite the Canaries getting relegated. This move has a few to a permanent one next summer so Mbokani and Hull fans alike will be hoping he can really kick on and keep the Tigers up.
This move could signal and change in style for the Tigers as so far they have lined up with a 4-3-3 formation. Now they have two strikers, Mbokani and Hernandez, who both merit starting positions with Keane raring to get some playing time as well. A good dilemma for Phelan and his team to have.
Markus Henriksen (Loan to be made permanent in January from AZ Alkmaar)
Markus Henriksen is a creative midfielder who can score as well as set up some goals. He has 27 International appearances for Norway, scoring twice and in 113 appearances for AZ Alkmaar, he found the net 26 times.
He is tipped to be a deadline day bargain for the Tigers and, as an attacking player, could provide some moments of magic for Hull fans to enjoy throughout the season. He also adds to the depth in midfield which is a turnaround from the beginning of this week when Hull only had 13 senior players fit. Things are looking up for the Tigers but now the attention turns to the manager hunt, with many predicting Mike Phelan will be allowed to continue the work he has started at the beginning of this season.