Hull City on the verge of completing Middlesbrough transfer raid | OneFootball

International goalkeeper Seny Dieng looks set to be heading to the MKM Stadium

Hull City are closing in on their first January transfer deal before the window has even opened, with experienced goalkeeper Seny Dieng looking set to arrive at the MKM Stadium.

The Tigers are currently flying high in the Championship under Sergej Jakirovic after the struggles of 2024-25, sitting fourth in the standings after their latest victory, which came on the road against Middlesbrough in a 1-0 win at the Riverside Stadium.

And they're now set to take one of Kim Hellberg's players away from him ahead of the transfer window opening later this week - although it appears that it is a move that all parties have agreed is the best next step forward.

Hull City closing in on Seny Dieng signing

According to a report from Alan Nixon via Patreon, Hull are set to land a permanent deal for current Boro back-up goalkeeper Seny Dieng.

The 31-year-old arrived on Teesside from QPR for a fee of around £2 million in the summer of 2023, having racked up 120 appearances for the west London outfit.

After appearing 35 times in the league in his debut season for Boro, Dieng - who has been capped nine times for the Senegal senior national team but is not at the current African Cup of Nations - had a tough second season, which saw him sidelined for half of it due to an achilles injury.

Dieng has not appeared in a matchday squad all season for Boro, and as per Nixon, it now looks like his time at the Riverside Stadium is over, with his contract now set to be terminated by mutual consent, despite it having a year-and-a-half remaining.

That will then allow Hull to complete a move for the African stopper, given the fact they are under a transfer fee restriction, meaning they cannot sign players permanently unless they are a free transfer.

Seny Dieng looks likely to be Ivor Pandur cover at Hull City

Dieng has plenty of Championship experience with QPR and Middlesbrough, and considering he only made his league debut for the former at the age of 25, he's somewhat of a late starter at second tier level.

Once quite highly-rated in-between the sticks, which led to his move to Boro, Dieng's career has somewhat stalled, with a long-term injury last season not helping his cause whatsoever.

And when he arrives at Hull, if reports are to be believed, then he's going to have to play second fiddle to Croatian stopper Ivor Pandur, who has been an ever-present for the Tigers this season in the league, although despite the club's lofty Championship position, he has only kept three clean sheets.