Hull City, Ruben Selles will be thankful for clever €4m+ clause | OneFootball

Gustavo Puerta has impressed on loan from Bayer Leverkusen for Hull City

Despite what has been a largely inconsistent and frustrating campaign for all connected with Hull City thus far, there are a handful of players who have emerged as bright sparks.

There was the occasional flash of brilliance under Tim Walter, which saw summer signings such as Liam Millar and Mohamed Belloumi emerge as fan favourites before their respective season-ending ACL injuries, whilst there is hope that Charlie Hughes, Mason Burstow, and Abu Kamara will go on to fulfill their potential with the Tigers under Ruben Selles' guidance.

The Spaniard has a strong track record when it comes to player development, having had to work with numerous academy players during his financially troubled period in charge of Reading.

Selles' maiden transfer window in East Yorkshire has hinted he will look to recruit from elsewhere as well with links to Leeds United's Joe Gelhardt, whilst Nottingham Forest's Willy Boly is one Championship promotion-winner who has seen his name crop up alongside Hull in the rumour mill.

However, whilst the main focus for Selles and Acun Ilicali is to make the required changes ahead of the final 20 league games, the Spanishc coach will be grateful for a pre-existing clause in the loan deal that his predecessor was able to strike for Gustavo Puerta.

Hull City's pre-existing clause for Gustavo Puerta is a blessing for Ruben Selles

The 21-year-old made the temporary switch from Bundesliga champions, Bayer Leverkusen, in the final days of the transfer window, and has been a strong performer, particularly under Selles, since making his debut for the Tigers in the narrow defeat to Sunderland on October 20th.

At times, it's not been hard to see why the youth international made 10 appearances for Xabi Alonso's side in their remarkable campaign last term, which included a trio of outings on their way to the UEFA Europa League Final in Dublin.

Puerta has shown a variety of attributes to his game, which make him look incredibly suited to Championship level at such an early stage of his career, despite having to adjust to the rigours of the second tier early on.

The former Bogotá FC man has mixed up his game with the flair and tenacity that is so often associated with box-to-box midfielders of a South American background, laying on several chances for his teammates and himself, which at times, frustratingly, have been passed up - summing up Hull's problems for large quarters of the season.

Given the form showcased in the last three months, his current boss can breathe a huge sigh of relief as Hull are said to be closing in on an agreement which means the Tigers are under an obligation to acquire Puerta's services for a reported fee in excess of €4m, which will be activated when the midfielder has played in 50% of Hull's outings, and his new contract is said to include a release clause as high as £20m (€24m).

Colombian duo have been at the heartbeat of all things good under Ruben Selles

Despite the animosity that plagued the MKM during the latter weeks of Walter's ill-fated reign in November, City fans can be grateful to the German for some of the players he brought to the club, with Puerta and his compatriot Steven Alzate two key examples.

Alzate was limited to three substitute appearances prior to Selles' first game in charge against Watford, largely down to a calf issue, but he and the Leverkusen loanee, alongside Regan Slater, have provided continuity and stability in the middle of the park, as Walter was so often known for chopping and changing his midfield approach between and during games.

Though he has yet to turn talent into true production, with Puerta's age massively on his side at just 21, the aforementioned clause presents Selles with an opportunity that he will feel is too good to pass up, which is to build his side around the box-to-box midfielder for the years to come, as it only looks a matter of time before the agreement between Hull and Leverkusen will be reached.