Transfer news – Hull City confirm deals for Solano and Harper
Published:Hull City have signed midfield duo James Harper and Nolberto Solano on free transfers after the pair trained with the Yorkshire club.
Following relegation from the Premeir League, Hull City are 16/1 to win the Championship. But those chances are limited by the fact they have to clear debts of around £35million, with Bosman deals the only way of bringing in new blood.
Harper, 29, was released by Sheffield United at the end of the season and has penned a two-year deal, while veteran Solano has agreed a one-year contract. The Blades are 14/1 to win the Championship.
Each player has Premier League pedigree, with the 35-year-old Peruvian having played for Newcastle United, Aston Villa and West Ham United, while Harper was part of the Reading team that did well during a short stay in the top flight.
Solano, who has scored 20 times in 95 internationals, follows new Tigers manager Nigel Pearson to the KC Stadium, having worked under him at Leicester City, and should give Hull a calming voice of experience.
Harper will add his box-to-box running to a midfield that looked tired last season. Reading are 14/1 to win the division, while Leicester are 11/1.
The players are Nigel Pearson’s first summer signings and each is on an incentivised contracts, meaning they should maintain a desire to win all season long.
Meanwhile, Hull’s promotion rivals Middlesborough have completed the £1.5million signing of Stephen McManus from Celtic
The 27-year-old Scotland defender, who won the Scottish title three times with the Glasgow club, spent the latter part of last season on loan at the Riverside and put in a series of sterling displays.
He links up with manager Gordon Strachan again, after their days in north of the border, and means that the 8/1 price on them becoming Championship winners looks all the more appetising.
QPR and Nottingham Forest join Boro on 8/1 as joint-favourites for the Championship crown. See the full Championship betting market.
