Hull City: Dogukan Sinik and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi situations will be on Tim Walter's mind | OneFootball

Two wingers could be giving the German boss plenty to think about in pre-season

With the 2024-25 season fast-approaching, Tim Walter has plenty to ponder between now and his first game in charge of Hull City.

A high amount of turnover is expected in HU3 in the five-week period sandwiched between those markers, with a number of gaping holes still needing to be sealed up heading into the Championship campaign.

Many would be in agreement when saying this current crop of Tigers' players is blessed with a high calibre of individual brilliance, but whether Walter can successfully mould the squad into his own remains an unknown entity.

Whilst some of those players still remain at the club at present, a number that were utilised or signed by Liam Rosenior have departed in the off-season, which means there's lots of work to be done to attract several players to the MKM Stadium or, in Walter's case, get them on-side.

With that being said, FLW has narrowed down two dilemmas that may come the 48-year-old's way soon, with both relating to wingers.

Tim Walter faces pivotal Dogukan Sinik, Hull City conundrum

The first of these dilemmas concerns Turkish wide man, Dogukan Sinik.

Sinik was one of many new additions throughout the first full transfer window under Acun Ilicali's ownership, which saw a scatter-gun approach to proceedings as a multitude of additions were pursued under the management of Shota Arveladze.

Signing for a reported £4m fee from Antalyaspor, there was significant hype surrounding the international winger's arrival, but two years on he remains an enigma to City supporters, failing to make any impression to them so far.

Granted, his career in East Yorkshire was immediately put on the back foot after sustaining an injury just days after completing his move, as his first appearance also came after the Georgian head coach's dismissal.

12 of those were made, with Sinik only registering one goal contribution, before returning to Antalyaspor on loan in January 2023, where he netted 3 times in as many appearance, despite showcasing similar fitness concerns.

Ilicali and Rosenior hoped the 25-year-old would feel like a new signing last summer, but he played just 22 minutes for the club in a 3-0 defeat to Ipswich Town, unfortunately summing up the story of his time in England, before failing to set the world on fire in his home country once more, this time with Hatayaspor.

Sinik has been pictured by the club upon the return to pre-season training this week, but with his contract expiring next June, Walter needs to get the six-time international on board with his plans, or City will be forced to accept a major loss when it comes to any financial ramifications.

However, given the potential of Jaden Philogene departing the club, Sinik becoming a part of the German's first-team plans cannot be ruled out.

Hull City may face issue in race for sought-after Premier League talent

It's no secret that City need to add significant strength-in-depth in many positions across the park, with the wide areas being one of those.

Therefore, they, like many Championship outfits, are said to be in the race for Crystal Palace's highly-rated Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.

Referring back to Philogene for a second, the Eagles are one club in the race for the former Aston Villa winger's signature, according to Fabrizio Romano, so there could be the potential for a swap-deal between both Walter and Oliver Glasner to be agreed, which would be an extremely shrewd piece of business.

However, the issue is that some of the clubs also in the race are also expected to be in the promotion or play-off mix this term, such as Luton Town, with Rob Edwards' philosophy at Kenilworth Road perhaps clearer to someone like Rak-Sakyi, given the unknown surrounding Hull at this moment in time.

Regardless, the second tier has been pinpointed as the next stage of natural development for the 21-year-old who made a significant impression at League One side Charlton in 2022/23, amassing 23 goal contributions - 15 goals and eight assists - for the Addicks, before providing cover at Selhurst Park last term.

Despite a change in manager, Palace may also be reluctant to strike a deal with the Tigers given how fellow Eagles youngster Malcom Ebiowei's loan spell panned out two seasons ago, which means, for Walter's sake, even more targets out wide should be drawn up as a back-up plan.