Football League World
·20 August 2024
Hull City set to utilise loan market as 28-year-old striker closes in on Tigers arrival
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Football League World
·20 August 2024
Hull City have agreed a loan deal with Union Berlin for Chris Bedia
Hull City are closing in on the signing of Union Berlin striker Chris Bedia.
According to Football Insider, the Tigers have agreed a deal with the Bundesliga outfit, which will see him arrive in East Yorkshire for the remainder of the 2024-25 season on loan.
The 28-year-old is travelling to England to complete the final stages of the move after terms were agreed between the two clubs.
Bedia only joined the German side last January, making the switch from Swiss side Servette after a prolific first half of last season where he scored 16 goals in 29 appearances.
However, he made just seven league appearances in the Bundesliga following his move, all of which came as a substitute, scoring once (all stats from Fbref).
Bedia is set to have talks with Hull to finalise personal terms before going through the medical process to complete his deal with the Championship side.
Tim Walter is looking to improve his attacking options before the transfer window closes next week.
The 28-year-old has emerged as the solution to their search for a new forward, with a loan move having been agreed with Union Berlin.
Their current options include just Oscar Estupinan following his recall from a loan stint with Bahia, whilst Mason Burstow arrived last week from Chelsea on a permanent basis.
Estupinan led the line in Hull's opening two games of the new league season, scoring once, but speculation has surrounded his future at the MKM Stadium.
Owner Acun Ilicali has confirmed, via Hull Live, that offers have been received for the Colombian this summer, although no exit has been agreed.
Burstow spent last season on loan with Sunderland, where he managed just one goal and one assist from 20 appearances in the Championship, so it’s likely he will be a secondary option in the side this year.
Walter has been keen to add someone with experience to his squad, and a track record of scoring goals, and Bedia should fit that profile as long as the deal gets over the line.
Bedia has never played in English football before, meaning this will be a new venture in his career.
The striker has competed in the top flight in Belgium, Switzerland and Germany though, as well as in Ligue 2, so he has a decent pedigree to work with.
He scored 25 times from 54 appearances in three seasons in the Swiss Super League prior to his move to Berlin earlier this calendar year, but he has failed to really fire in Germany since his move.
Bedia has struggled for game-time and form in Germany, but that only makes up six months of his career.
He has otherwise performed well across Europe, and his goal scoring record in Switzerland is encouraging.
Given it is an initial loan move, this could prove a solid bit of business for Hull as the financial cost should be limited.
He can provide competition for Estupinan, and could even take the reins from him as the starting striker if the Colombian departs before the end of the window.