Hull City player could leave as imminent Josh Doig sale sparks domino effect | OneFootball

Ruben Vinagre is a transfer target for Italian side Hellas Verona this January.

According to Tutto Mercato Web, the Serie A side have set their sights on the Hull City defender.

Verona are set to lose Josh Doig in a €6 million move to Sassuolo, which means they will be looking to strengthen at left-back before the 1 February deadline.

Vinagre has been with Hull since last summer, signing from Sporting Clube de Portugal as part of a season-long loan move.

The 24-year-old has made 10 appearances in the Championship for Liam Rosenior’s side, including six starts.

Ruben Vinagre transfer latest

Vinagre has struggled for consistent game time at the MKM Stadium, with his most recent appearance coming on 13 December in a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough.

Sporting could look to recall the player and move him on to another club for the second half of the campaign.

The Portuguese side could look to earn the player greater playing time, with Vinagre in and out of Rosenior’s plans at Hull.

The Tigers’ manager recently responded to speculation over the defender’s future with the Championship side.

He claimed that discussions are happening all the time behind the scenes regarding Vinagre’s time at the club.

"There's discussions happening behind the scenes all the time,” said Rosenior, earlier this month, via Hull Live.

“I'm really tired because I feel the last two days, even though I've not been on the training pitch, there's been a lot of discussions going on about all different things, Ruben's situation, Dod, incomings, outgoings.

“We're working really hard behind the scenes and when it's the right time to announce something, that's when we'll do it."

Hellas Verona will be looking to strengthen this month in their bid to remain in the Italian top flight, with the team currently inside the relegation zone in 18th.

Hull City league position

Hull are fighting for promotion to the Premier League, with the team sitting ninth in the second tier.

The gap to the play-off places is just one point, with the team slipping out of the top six with last weekend’s defeat to Norwich City.

Rosenior’s side were also eliminated from the FA Cup midweek, losing 2-1 to Birmingham City.

Next up for Hull is an away trip to face seventh place Sunderland on Friday night in a big game in the race for a play-off place.

Vinagre has not lived up to expectations

Vinagre hasn’t made a big impact at Hull, and hasn’t been as positive an addition as many hoped he could be last summer.

Losing him wouldn’t be a massive blow given he hasn’t been in the team for the last month.

Hull would want to dip into the market to find a replacement for the Portuguese should he leave, as it would leave the team a little light at the back otherwise.

However, not many people will be too worried with needing to find a replacement given how unimportant he has been to the side since joining.