Fabrizio Romano issues Hull City transfer blow as ‘excellent’ Sergej Jakirovic target agrees deal

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Hull City are set to miss out on a long-standing summer transfer window target to an Italian top flight side.

Hull City have been restricted throughout the summer transfer window after Hull were given a three-window transfer ban by the EFL.

Despite the Tigers having been limited to loan moves and free agent signings, owner Acun Illicali has added quality for new boss Sergej Jakirovic.

Recently, Hull beat Swansea City to sign Oli McBurnie, and Joe Gelhardt has returned to Hull following his impressive loan spell from Leeds United last season.

Both McBurnie and Gelhardt will shoulder a lot of the goalscoring burden for Hull this season, with news confirmed that the Tigers will miss out on a long-standing summer striker target.

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Hull City transfer target Matija Frigan set to join Parma from Westerlo

Hull were linked with Matija Frigan this summer before the EFL restrictions were put in place, and the Tigers remained keen on a loan move for the Croatian striker.

Jakirovic and Frigan know each other well, following their time at Rijeka together, where the forward broke the club’s record for being the youngest appearance-maker in a European match before Jakirovic’s arrival.

In mid-July, Jakirovic confirmed Hull’s interest in Frigan, which has since failed to materialise.

Now, the Bosnian boss is set to lose out on signing the forward, who scored 14 goals and notched two assists for Westerlo last season.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed on X: “Parma have agreed deal to sign Matija Frigan as new striker from Westerlo for fee under €10m. Parma beat Hull City to the signing.”

Amid the heavy transfer links last month, Jakirovic told the Hull Daily Mail: Yes (we want Matija Frigan).

“He’s an excellent striker. His work rate is very high. A very good left-foot finisher, good with the header, good with the left and right foot, good in the spaces, he’s a good target man.

“I think this is the next step for him. This is perfect for him.”

Unfortunately for Jakirovic, Parma have dealt him a major transfer blow, given the goalscoring record of Frigan.

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Matija Frigan would have been an excellent signing for Hull City

This summer, Frigan said Sunderland were ‘seriously interested’ in signing him back in the January window, with the striker then on ten goals in 24 starts for Westerlo.

Frigan could have achieved his ‘dream’ at Sunderland, but has now made his move to Parma after German top flight side Hamburg were interested in him.

As a result of Frigan’s imminent move to Parma, the goalscoring burden at the Tigers during the 2025/26 campaign will fall on the shoulders of Gelhardt, McBurnie, Kyle Joseph, and Enis Destan when he returns from injury.

Promising signs are present for Hull after their goalless Championship draw with Coventry City on opening weekend, which was followed by a 5-3 defeat on penalties to Wrexham in the Carabao Cup.

Unfortunately for Jakirovic, that early promise will not be enhanced by Frigan’s arrival this summer.