Hull City manager Liam Rosenior has confirmed his interest in signing the ‘outstanding’ Jesurun Rak-Sakyi from Premier League outfit Crystal Palace this month.
After taking League One by storm at Charlton Athletic in 2022/23, a spell in the Championship feels like the natural next step for a player who’s searing pace, mind-bending skill and impressive end product has drawn rather inevitable comparisons with one Wilfried Zaha.
According to the Hull Daily Mail, talks over a move to Humberside are underway. And while Rosenior knows that a move to Hull City is far from a done deal – he acknowledges that there is interest from a number of other interested parties in Crystal Palace’s magical, mercurial Jesurun Rak-Sakyi – The Tigers remain hopeful that a deal can be agreed sooner rather than later.
“We’re aware of him. I’ve known Jez for a long time,” says former Derby County coach Rosenior, speaking to the BBC Humberside Sport.
“I’ve watched him. He had an outstanding loan at Charlton. There are a lot of clubs that are interested, and he is someone that we are looking at at the moment.”
Crystal Palace face Jesurun Rak-Sakyi decision
Rak-Sakyi scored 15 goals and set up ten more for the Addicks. Whether Crystal Palace are ready to let the Southwark-born 20-year-old depart again may depend on what happens regarding the futures of both Michael Olise and Ebere Eze, both of whom are attracting admiring glances from more deep-pocketed Premier League clubs.
Palace have already lost club legend Zaha to Turkish giants Galatasaray.
“Normally, with a young player, there’s a lot of inconsistency. First of all, fair to play to Rak-Sakyi for coming out of the comfort zone in the U21s,” Charlton boss Dean Holden tells talkSPORT.
“Playing men’s football at such a big club comes with massive pressure. I was wowed by him instantly. I picked a team within two days of being at the club and he wasn’t in the starting XI, I went more defensive in that first game.
“Then, in that second game, he very quickly got on the pitch. And he played every minute pretty much of my time from Christmas onwards.
“He’s just an incredible one-v-one player in terms of his dribbling ability. He can get knocked off the ball and be unbalanced but he’ll have an awareness of where the space is.
“(Rak-Sakyi) is not selfish either. He’s not someone who will do five step overs to look good for the sake of it. He’s very effective. So if there’s a player to be played in on goal, he’ll make that pass.
“Some of the things he did you just stood and watched in amazement literally.”
Hull are also keen to sign Scott Twine from Burnley.
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