Players to prove after Tim Walter’s appointment with Hull City

Dogukan Sinik, a Turkish winger, has not had a great experience in East Yorkshire.

Under Shota Arveladze, the team acquired several high-profile acquisitions in the summer of 2022, including Sinik, for an alleged £4 million on a three-year deal. But the winger’s window of opportunity to make an impression at the MKM Stadium is rapidly closing.

After his initial transfer from Antalyaspor, he was understandably under pressure following a knee injury sustained during the preseason. Despite this, the winger failed to light up the world, recording just one assist in 12 appearances (2022–2023), only two of which were starts. Later, on loan back to his former club, he again struggled to find consistency in goal contributions and fitness.

Last season, Sinik only played 22 minutes of football for the Tigers. Rosenior and Acun Ilicali had thought that he would feel like a new signing, but he only made nine appearances while on loan back to his native country, this time with Hatayspor, where he finished with one goal and two assists.

Sinik’s performance for Hull may improve with a new face in the dugout, but for the 25-year-old, it’s really now or never, and the club may have to absorb a significant loss on the aforementioned amount.

Ivor Pandur

Ivor Pandur, a 24-year-old Croatian custodian, joined Fortuna Sittard of the Netherlands for an alleged £1.5 million at the start of the January transfer window. Before joining the team, he made 49 appearances and kept 13 clean sheets.

Ryan Allsop has been the Tigers’ starting custodian under Rosenior for the most of the 23/24 season, creating a serious quandary for the organisation.

It was clear that Allsop’s mentality, at 39, was heavily influenced by his ability to play out of the back. Nevertheless, he concluded with a disastrous goals prevented figure of -10.10 (FotMob), which indicates that he gave up more than ten goals more than he should have from the shots he faced.

Amid a mid-season friendly against the Curaçao national team in March, Pandur’s sole chance to show off his skills, many supporters were also calling for him to play towards the finish of the season.

After a thorough preseason, Ilicali’s recent remarks suggested that Pandur would be the best player heading into the next season. If he impresses his new manager with a run of reliable performances, it will be difficult to disagree.

Jason Lokilo

Jason Lokilo, who left Dutch team Sparta Rotterdam, was one of 11 new players that summer.

Even though he made 21 appearances for the team in the first half of last season, many fans have expressed frustration with his overall performances during his brief tenure with the team thus far.

In the end, Lokilo’s ineffectiveness at the top of the pitch was the source of the displeasure. His lone club goal to date came on January 16th during the FA Cup Third Round Replay loss to Birmingham City.

With only one year remaining on his deal, the 25-year-old was therefore made available for loan by Rosenior. He then joined FC Vizela, the bottom team in Liga Portugal, where he has equally struggled with consistency, managing just one goal and one assist in 11 games.

The Belgian-born winger’s permanent departure wouldn’t be shocking, but for the time being, Lokilo has the opportunity to make an impression on his new manager during preseason.