Football League World
·27 luglio 2024
Beating Leeds United to Liam Millar boosts Hull City's chances of Oscar Estupinan success: View
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·27 luglio 2024
Liam Millar would add more service for the Tigers which allows Oscar Estupinan to flourish
Despite being a slow-burner when it comes to official incomings so far this transfer window, the goalposts are definitely starting to move on this front as far as Hull City are concerned.
The calibre of player which the East Yorkshire side were able to attract last summer and in January have been documented at length, as has the exodus of key players such as Jacob Greaves, Jaden Philogene and Ozan Tufan.
Tim Walter is someone who knows all too well about the requirements to mount promotion bids, having done so with the likes of Hamburg SV in the 2.Bundesliga, albeit being unsuccessful in those aims, with the belief that he can eventually go one better at the MKM after last season's near miss on the play-off places.
After a pre-season encounter with League Two side Doncaster Rovers, the new head coach stated that the depth of his current squad is insufficient to match the club's lofty ambitions, but recent transfer rumours are hinting that quality looks set to be added among the ranks, which will impact the potency of a forward recently brought back into the fold.
Liam Millar made a significant impression on those casting an eye on second tier developments last term whilst on loan at Preston North End from Swiss Super League outfit, FC Basel.
What's remarkable is that the former Liverpool wide player continued to operate with such creative power, despite being shoo-horned into a left wing-back role under Ryan Lowe, which in some ways actually hampered the Canadian's end product.
In this unconventional role, the Toronto-born man was still able to accumulate five goals and assists, and his average statistics per 90 minutes make for solid reading in comparison to those who featured in a similar role, which you feel would only be boosted next season in a more advanced role, due to City already having the services of Ryan Giles to call upon at left-back.
It was initially revealed by Canadian journalist, Joshua Kloke, that an offer has been put on the table by City, although they face strong competition from the likes of Cardiff City, Sunderland, Leeds United and Burnley, while it was also claimed in June by BBC Radio Sheffield's Adam Oxley that Sheffield United had an agreement in place to sign the 25-year-old.
However, Darren Witcoop's revelation will ease City fans' feelings, as they are said to be leading the chase, and it could be a potential cut-price deal as his deal at St-Jakob Park expires next June.
One man who will be licking their lips at the potential service coming his way across all areas of the pitch is Colombian forward, Oscar Estupinan.
Estupinan was recalled from an eight-goal stint in Brazil and subsequently likened to former Cardiff forward Robert Glatzel, who scored all 10 of his Championship goals from inside the box in South Wales, before going on to become a more potent attacker under Walter's management at the Volksparkstadion.
Walter has already outlined his high-octane style of possession-based and high-chance-creation methodology since being appointed at the MKM, and with the likes of potentially Miller and Kasey McAteer featuring on either flank alongside Giles and Cody Drameh, as well as the creative force of Abdus Omur in behind, the striker will now feel he can look towards a potential 20-goal season, having scored 13 in his first season at the club two years ago with a lesser amount of chances to feed off.
All five created 11 assists combined last season in the Championship, despite the highest appearance tally among the quartet being Miller's 35 games at Deepdale.
Furthermore, Walter's previous comments regarding the former Vitória Guimarães striker's profile will also allow for City to reboot their spread of goals, as 63 of last season's tally of 68 all came from players no longer contracted.
"I saw a lot of clips from him (Estupinan) how he scored the goals. He's waiting in front (of goal) and that's what we need to maybe to pin some players in the last line, to bind them and then make space for the upcoming players, like our number eight or for the wingers."
Allowing the likes of Millar to use his direct nature at opposition full-backs to an even greater effect whilst looking to cut inside on his right, which was proven by a sublime strike against Leeds on Boxing Day, would adhere to Walter's principles, whilst allowing for those around him to create a high number of chances, which more often than not, Estupinan has got on the end off, as shown by the fact all of his 14 goals in Black and Amber have come inside the 18-yard-box.