Hull City to beat Sheffield United and Ipswich Town in Oli McBurnie race | OneFootball

Hull City are now leading the race for Oli McBurnie, who had also been of interest to two his his former clubs, Sheffield United and Swansea City.

Hull City have emerged as the new front-runners in the race to sign striker Oli McBurnie, after the EFL sanctioned the contract offer they've put to the player.

Following an extremely close shave with relegation back to League One from the Championship at the end of the 2024-25 season, Hull City have been very active in the transfer market as they look to improve upon last season's extremely disappointing 21st-placed finish.

But this rebuild has been complicated by financial issues. Hull have been under a transfer embargo since the start of July, when the EFL imposed one over late payments made to Aston Villa for the loan signing of Louie Barry last season. This matter is now understood to have been settled, but the embargo remains in place, although the club have appealed the ruling.

EFL give green light to Hull bid for Oli McBurnie, and the striker is keen on the move

Journalist Alan Nixon reports that Hull have been successful in getting clearance from the EFL to make a bid for striker Oli McBurnie, who has been without a club since his contract with the Spanish side Las Palmas was terminated by mutual consent following their relegation from La Liga at the end of the 2024-25 season.

McBurnie had also been offered a contract by two of his former clubs, Sheffield United and Swansea City, but Nixon reports that McBurnie is keen on a move to the MKM Stadium instead. It's anticipated that the signing should be completed before their first Championship game of the season, away to Coventry City on the 9th August.

It's also reported that Ipswich Town - who lost their talismanic striker Liam Delap to Chelsea at the end of last season - had also been interested in the player but have other available options.

McBurnie permission is a positive sign ahead of Hull embargo appeal hearing

It is a sign of the regard in which Oli McBurnie is held that two of his former clubs came in with offers to take him back this summer. McBurnie scored 26 goals for Swansea between 2016 and 2019 before completing a move to Sheffield United, scoring a further 29 goals for them over the next five years. He left the club for Las Palmas upon the expiry of his contract in 2024.

Hull City will have had to work hard to get EFL permission to bring the player in, though its approval gives fans some cause for optimism ahead of their forthcoming appeal. Their transfer embargo requires them to seek permission from the League for any new signings, but their appeal against this ruling is due to be heard on the 6th August, and the decision to allow McBurnie to sign for them may be considered a sign that the ban will be lifted.

Unlike the other current Championship embargo at Sheffield Wednesday, Hull have settled the outstanding debt that was the reason for their embargo being in place, and this can only be considered a sign that there is a strong chance that their appeal will be successful.