Football League World
·23 July 2024
"Prime position" - Pundit backs Hull City to beat Derby County and Burnley to free agent
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·23 July 2024
Carlton Palmer spoke to FLW to discuss a number of Championship clubs being linked with Marek Rodak
Following his recent Fulham exit, Marek Rodak is a free agent and the Slovakian goalkeeper has been the subject of Championship interest.
Rodak spent over a decade at Craven Cottage but failed to make an appearance in the Premier League last season and is subsequently on the hunt for a new club.
With plenty of Championship experience and being a free agent, it's no surprise that a number of clubs in the second tier are interested in his signature this summer, and the likes of Derby County, Hull City, Blackburn Rovers and Burnley have all been linked.
Alan Nixon reported via his Patreon that Hull would have to meet Rodak's wage demands to sign him, but his demands have already put off Burnley, and remain a hurdle for both Blackburn Rovers and Derby.
Former England international and current pundit Carlton Palmer believes that Hull City are in pole position to meet Rodak's wage demands and sign him this summer.
Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Palmer said: "Hull City and Derby County are in the race to sign Fulham’s ex-goalkeeper Marek Rodak.
"Rodak left the club at the end of the season when his contract expired. He was released after making just two league appearances after Fulham won promotion two years ago.
"Hull are desperate to sign an experienced goalkeeper after selling Ryan Allsop to Birmingham City, and Derby County have lost Joe Wildsmith, who won the League One Golden Glove award to West Brom. "There is a lot of competition for the player who was reported to be earning £15k a week at Fulham. Although he won’t be earning that sort of money, he’ll still be looking for a serious sum and that seems to have put Derby off at present, along with Burnley and Blackburn Rovers. “Rodak might come back on Burnley’s radar if James Trafford is sold, despite the arrival of Vaclav Hladky from Ipswich, but I can’t see Burnley going in for another goalkeeper knowing that Hladky was first choice at Ipswich and got them promoted. “Derby County are tight on the wages, and their top earner is believed to be James Collins on £8.5k a week, so they’re likely to be priced out of it. "Rodak is experienced with three promotions under his belt, so he could be a good purchase for someone like Hull City. I think Hull will go for him big time as they intend to push on and go for promotion, but we all know that Paul Warne is a serial promotion chaser, but with wages being a problem, I think Hull are in prime position.
“However, that’s not to say that other clubs won’t be interested in him.”
It's been a tough old summer for Hull City so far, and they've seen a number of key players depart, with the likes of Jaden Philogene, Jacob Greaves and Ozan Tufan all leaving the club.
Ryan Giles is the only first-team signing they've made so far, and it's clear that further signings are needed, so Rodak would be a welcome addition.
The Tigers have seen last season's first choice Ryan Allsop depart for Birmingham City, but they still have the likes of Ivor Pandur, who joined from Fortuna Sittard in January, along with youngsters Thimothee Lo-Tutala and Harvey Cartwright, who spent last season on loan with Doncaster Rovers and Grimsby respectively.
However, Rodak is a level above the goalkeepers already at the club, and with two Championship promotions under his belt, he'd be a very useful addition to Tim Walter's side.
Rodak has played over 100 games at Championship level, and if he joined, it would allow Hull to loan out one of Lo-Tutala or Cartwright to continue their development.
Given some of the high-profile departures at the MKM Stadium this summer, Hull have likely freed up space and money, which means they could potentially afford Rodak's wage demands.