Sergej Jakirovic names three-player Hull City wishlist

Hull City have a busy summer ahead of them as they prepare for life back in the Premier League.

Sergej Jakirovic took over as the club's manager prior to the start of last season with the club tipped to be relegated from the Championship.

However, the Tigers exceeded expectations throughout the campaign, ultimately climbing into the play-off places with victory on the final day to keep their promotion dreams alive.

After beating Millwall over two legs, Hull City enjoyed another memorable trip to Wembley as they defeated Middlesbrough courtesy of a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Oli McBurnie to secure their return to the top flight.

What made the achievement all the more impressive is that the club had been unable to sign any players for a fee due to a transfer embargo, forcing Jakirovic to abandon plans he had made prior to his first season in English football.

With the ban now lifted, the former Dinamo Zagreb manager has revealed that he intends on reviving his interest for three players, telling Sportske Novosti of three players that caught his eye.

Arber Hoxha

The first player identified by Jakirovic was Albanian winger Arber Hoxha.

Jakirovic signed Hoxha for Dinamo Zagreb during his time in charge of the HNL side, and Hull were among several teams said to have been interested in securing his signature last summer.

With Hull unable to pursue Hoxha due to the embargo he ultimately remained in the Croatian capital, netting six goals in 31 league appearances as Dinamo secured their 26th league title.

Reports last year claimed Hoxha could have been available for as little as £1million, though it remains to be seen whether his asking price will have increased following a successful campaign.

Speaking on Hoxha Jakirovic said: "It's true, Hoxha was our target, but because of the ban we couldn't pay compensation and Dinamo didn't want to let him go.

"I know Hoxha well from Dinamo... [He] will certainly all be part of our analysis and discussions, but it is too early to draw any conclusions.

"We need to see how much money we will have available and who we will be in a position to bring in."

Rokas Pukstas

Another name cited by Jakirovic as a potential transfer target was that midfielder Rokas Pukstas.

The son of Lithuanian Olympic marathon runner Mindaugas Pukstas, the 21-year-old was born in Oklahoma, United States and currently plays his club football for Croatian side Hajduk Split.

Renowned for his stamina in the middle of the park, Pukstas enjoyed his most successful campaign to date in 2025/26, producing 13 goal contributions in the league and representing the US at multiple youth levels.

In his recent interview Jakirovic noted Pukstas' 'fantastic predispositions', and claimed that he has the ability to step up to the level required in the Premier League.

Toni Fruk

The final name mentioned by Jakirovic was Croatian international Toni Fruk.

Fruk began his senior career at Serie A side Fiorentina but did not break into the club's first-team and moved on to Rijeka in the summer of 2023.

In his native country the 25-year-old has started to deliver on his early promise and he scored 19 goals in all competitions last year, including four in the UEFA Conference League as they club reached the round of 16.

His performances have seen him earn a place in Croatia's squad for the 2026 World Cup, alongside current Hull City goalkeeper Ivor Pandur.

Fruk has just one year remaining on his current deal at the Stadion Rujevica and Hull could look to make him an early addition as they attempt to overhaul their squad.

Asked whether the aforementioned trio have the ability to succeed in the Premier League Jakirovic insisted: "The ones I listed certainly can.

"Otherwise, why doubt the quality of the players who dominate our league? Those with true ambition always find their way."