£7.7m Matija Frigan gives very interesting answer about Hull City transfer and Sergej Jakirovic

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Sergej Jakirovic is clearly of the opinion that Matija Frigan will not be leaving Westerlo this summer and starting a new life in the Championship with Hull City.

But, while that transfer ban obviously makes life a whole lot more difficult for the embattled Tigers, it appears that the Croatia Under-21 international himself is not ready to close the door to Humberside.

Hull City were hit with a transfer embargo earlier in the window. Meaning that a team who reached the FA Cup final a decade ago will be prevented from spending money on new signings until January 2027, although that does not stop the Tigers from negotiating short-term loans or with free-agents.

Reportedly valued at £7.7 million, it is difficult to imagine KVC Westerlo green-lighting a deal that would see Frigan move to Hull City on an initial 18-month loan.

This week, Sergej Jakirovic told BBC Sport that he does not expect to be reunited with a striker he worked with at Croatian outfit NK Rijeka during the 2022/23 season.

But in conversation with Gazet van Antwerpen – an interview published on Saturday morning – Frigan remains very open to a Jakirovic reunion, even if he might have to wait quite a bit longer.

Westerlo ace Matija Frigan hopes Hull City transfer is still ‘an option’

Frigan scored 15 goals during his breakout season under Jakirovic.

After swapping Rijeka for Westerlo, the 23-year-old has gone on to score a further 20 times in Belgium’s top flight.

“I prefer a team that plays at the highest level but a move to Hull City is definitely an option,” Frigan explains. “It could even have happened, but the club currently has a transfer ban.

“Jakirovic’s presence definitely plays a role [in my potential future switch to Humberside]. I’ve always had a good relationship with him. I know how he works, I know what he wants.

“Under his leadership at Rijeka, I was the best [version of] Frigan. I’d love to be that player again. What if the transfer ban is lifted soon? We’ll see what happens then. Right now, I’m fully focused on Westerlo.”

Matija Frigan was heavily linked with Sunderland in the spring. The big-spending Black Cats now appear to have shifted their focus towards a higher class of transfer target after beating Sheffield United in the play-off final, however.

RB Leipzig’s Belgian international attacker Lois Openda was linked a few hours ago, for instance.

Frigan hails Sergej Jakirovic as Hull weigh up Oli McBurnie swoop

As for Hull City, Las Palmas confirmed the departure of Oli McBurnie recently.

As a free-agent, the former Swansea and Sheffield United targetman remains a viable option for a side who have brought in Enis Destan, Dillon Phillips, Semi Ajayi, Akim Famewo, Joel Ndala and John Lundstram without spending a penny in transfer fees.

Frigan, meanwhile, hit the target 14 times in the 2024/25 season. A big improvement on his debut campaign on Belgian soil, and a return to the form he demonstrated under Jakirovic.

“I’ve certainly grown a bit in recent years, but I’m still trying to understand what went wrong in my first season,” Frigan adds. “I was clearly out of form. Whatever I tried, it didn’t work. Last year was much better. My teammates thought I was better, and vice versa.

“If I feel comfortable on the pitch, you’ll see that in my game. Right now, I’m feeling good, but I still have a lot of work to do to become a better attacker. My heading could be better, and I need to improve my ball control. But hey, I’m only 22. I still have time to grow.

“The transfer window is still open for another month. A lot can happen during that period. I’m in regular contact with my agent, but honestly, those transfer worries aren’t on my mind. As long as I’m here, I’ll be 100 percent focused on Westerlo.”