Hull City should plot German raid for Jaden Philogene replacement as a statement signing: View

With the fast-paced nature of the transfer market, Hull City can ill-afford to hang around much longer on the incomings front.

Despite it being accepted among the Tigers fanbase that the likelihood of losing Jacob Greaves and Jaden Philogene was far greater than new boss, Tim Walter, retaining the services of the highly sought-after duo, there are plenty of voids within the current squad which need to be filled in the three weeks prior to the Championship season kick-off on August 10th.

Recent noise coming out of the club hierarchy points towards contingency plans now being activated after the 22-year-old’s return to Aston Villa after just one season in East Yorkshire. However, one man with similar attributes to Philogene should be one of the first names on City’s list of replacements, and it makes a lot of sense given the new boss’ German connections.                Hull City should target St Pauli’s Elias Saad as a Jaden Philogene replacement

Elias Saad playing for St Pauli
Elias Saad has been a strong performer for St Pauli in recent seasons, and would most definitely be a statement signing if the Tigers had the Tunisian on their radar.

The 2.Bundesliga has become a hotbed of talent in recent times, which includes the likes of Amadou Onana – previously of Walter’s former side, Hamburg SV – and whilst they and ‘Freibeuter der Liga’ may not see eye to eye in North Germany, the 48-year-old should look to sweep his former allegiances under the carpet and target the 24-year-old who still has great bundles of potential to unlock.

And, when comparing the stats of the two wingers who shone for their respective outfits last season, Philogene may come out on top, but with Saad said to be the seventh-most comparable and most realistic replacement as per Fbref, there would be a lot to be excited about for those of a Black and Amber persuasion.

Despite starting seven less games – partly down to 2.Bundesliga’s season only consisting of 34 matches – Saad actually outperformed Philogene in his xG and npXG (Non-Penalty Expected Goals), hitting an average of 0.30 per 90 minutes on both occasions compared to the former City man’s respective tallies of 0.26 and 0.24 per 90.

The Tunisian and England youth international also went toe-to-toe in terms of their shot-creating actions per 90, with totals of 4.04 and 4.06, showcasing the extreme similarities, even though Saad is two years senior to the man returning to Villa Park.

63 of Hull’s 68 goals last season were scored by players no longer at the club, with Philogene topping those charts with 12. Meanwhile, the St Pauli man was the club’s fourth-highest scorer, netting 7 as his side – including former Tiger, Jackson Irvine – returned to the Bundesliga for the first time since 2011.