Signing Fulham’s promotion-winning midfielder Jean Michael Seri would be a huge statement of intent from Hull City owner Acun Ilicali, according to ex-Sheffield Wednesday ace Carlton Palmer. City are firmly in the race to sign the Ivory Coast international with head coach Shota Arveladze and Ilicali working hard to convince the 30-year-old that he can lead the Tigers to promotion next season.
Seri would be required to take a significant pay cut should he move to the MKM Stadium this summer, with his salary understood to be in the region of £60,000 per week at Craven Cottage, but City are keen to bring the ex-Fulham man in before the start of the season, and talks have been on going for a period of time.
Palmer, who played for a host of clubs including Wednesday, Nottingham Forest, Dublin City and Staveley Miners Welfare throughout a distinguished career believes it would be a huge coup should the Tigers be able to clinch the deal.
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“Yeah, it’s massive if they’re able to get him in,” the 56-year-old told Football League World.
“But obviously, with the new owners coming in, we know they’ve got money, so you know, they can pay the salaries. So it’ll be a big statement of intent of what they’re looking to do in the future. But, there’s a lot of interest in him.”
Seri is just one of many players the Tigers are in discussions with, as Arveladze looks to build a team he feels is capable of challenging at the top end of the Championship when the new campaign kicks off at the end of next month.
Adama Traore and Ozan Tufan have both agreed moves from Turkey and will sign for the club once work permit paperwork has been completed, while City continue to work hard on doing a deal for MK Dons star Scott Twine.
Arveladze’s players return to pre-season training at Cottingham on Monday, and with the Tigers set to fly out to Marbella for a pre-season training camp early next month, the Georgian boss is hopeful of having at least three new arrivals through the door by the time they depart for the Costa del Sol.
