There is a reason why the media like Acun Ilicali as much as they do.
Because, if you want a quote, if you want a headline, the man some had dubbed Turkey’s answer to Simon Cowell is always happy to oblige.
Such as for, instance, when Ilicali was interviewed on talkSPORT ahead of his nation’s Euro 2024 round-of-16 clash with Romania on Tuesday.
The conversation quickly turned to the future of Jaden Philogene; the former Aston Villa whizzkid who took the Championship by storm last year and produced a rabona so ‘outrageous’ that even the Dubious Goals Committee were willing to make an exception and ignore the sizeable deflection which sent it spinning into Rotherham United’s net.
HITC have been told that Spanish giants Barcelona have watched the Hull City talisman. The prospect of Philogene taking that seldom-travelled path from Humberside from Catalonia is a very real one, particularly if Barca cash in on either Raphinha or Ferran Torres.
Liverpool are also admirers. HITC understands that The Reds have a good relationship with Hull after sending Fabio Carvalho and Tyler Morton on loan to The Tigers.
Everton and West Ham United in Jaden Philogene mix
Ilicali, meanwhile, was quizzed about the reported interest from Everton and West Ham United too.
And, while seemingly confirming that there is some truth to those Toffees and Hammers links, the Hull also made it clear that Philogene would not be forced to stay against his will.
“Everything is true,” Ilicali explains (2 July, 12.40pm). “Of course, if you ask me, I told my fans that I would sell nobody. My idea in football is not to make money. My idea is to make a strong and bigger club.
“But to make a bigger club, sometimes if a player says I want to go, that’s a different case. For me, if one player changes, it’s not the end of the road.”
Philogene ended last term with 12 often spectacular goals and six assists to his name. Arguably the most unpredictable and technically-gifted attacker in the Championship, the England Under 21 international has also been watched by Crystal Palace.
Palace, HITC understands, could raid the second-tier again once Michael Olise departs for Bayern Munich. There is also interest in Leeds United’s Wilfried Gnonto and Sunderland’s Jack Clarke.
Crystal Palace need a Michael Olise replacement
“I will never want to ruin their career or their mood because by pushing them (to stay). If Jaden wants to move and says he wants to go somewhere, (stopping him) is something we cannot do too much because this is his life,” Ilicali adds.
“I love all of my boys. For me, their life and career, I am responsible too. If they don’t want to play with us, they don’t want to play with us.”
Hull’s vice-chairman Tan Kesler, interestingly, told Hull Live in September that Aston Villa would have had first dibs on Philogene if the Tigers had secured promotion back to the Premier League.
Hull eventually finished seventh, just three points outside the play-offs.
Kesler also indicated that a fee of £15 million may be a fair one.
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