The Tigers have pulled off quite a transfer coup by bringing in the in-demand number 10

Scott Twine’s move from Burnley to Hull City will surprise plenty of observers in the Championship and beyond, of that, there can be little doubt. Twine was a regular feature for Burnley during the course of pre-season, as Vincent Kompany’s Clarets prepared for life in the Premier League, and there was an expectation around Turf Moor that the 24-year-old would be in and around the squad this season.

 

Behind the scenes, however, lengthy conference calls and meetings have been taking place between both clubs over the course of the summer to reach a point where this deal could be done. Throughout it, and once it was made clear to Twine that he would not be assured of regular football this season, there was only one place he wanted to go, and that was Hull City.

Naturally, there will be those who scoff at that, who will show disrespect to the Tigers, but Twine made it clear from day one to Kompany that if he was to be allowed to go, the MKM Stadium was his destination. Eleven other Championship clubs chased him, and made sales pitches to Burnley, but none of it mattered. Coming to City, to play for Liam Rosenior, within his style of play was key.

 

The relationship Twine and his father, Steve, was fostered more than 12 months ago when City launched a bid to sign the playmaker from MK Dons. City’s owner Acun Ilicali met with the pair in Istanbul, having been flown out as his guests. Twine was later shown around the club’s Cottingham training base before MK opted to do a deal with Burnley and he was on his way to Turf Moor.

READ MORE: Hull City capture long-term target Scott Twine from Premier League Burnley as contract details revealed

While Ilicali and City accepted his move there, it was one that hit hard. Twine had been the club’s big transfer target last summer, and a lot of work had gone on in the background to get a deal done, unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. They watched closely as Twine made his Turf Moor debut, suffered an unfortunate injury and then roared back to fitness to help lift the Championship trophy on the final day, scoring in a win over Cardiff.

 

Bosses at the MKM Stadium kept a close eye on events, and following Burnley’s promotion were straight back on the phone to see what the future held, and after being given positive indications, they stepped up their interest. Patience was rewarded. Ilicali’s desire to foster a positive relationship with Twine left a mark on him and his family, and there was a sense of loyalty to the club who spent so much time and energy in trying to sign him 12 months previously.

A formal offer was made, but the Premier League new boys were keen to let the summer play out and see how their incoming business developed. Develop it did, and around 10 days ago, City were given the final nod that Twine would be allowed to leave after their opening game of the season against Manchester City.

 

The excitement within the coaches’ office at the training ground was palpable. There were a number of reasons Liam Rosenior bounced into his pre-Sheffield Wednesday press conference like Tigger, and the green light from the Clarets was towards the top. While Twine’s loan move does not include an option to buy, there’s a belief that if the relationship blossoms and success is secured this season, then both parties would want it to continue beyond next summer, but for now, those are questions for another day.

City have pulled off one of the most eye-catching transfers of the summer in the EFL, and there’s no doubt, it will attract attention, and with it, a greater sense of focus which will bring added pressure. His arrival has the capability to turn City into a team with a significantly greater attacking threat, but that’s just one piece of the current transfer jigsaw attempting to be assembled.

 

If the club’s big plan comes together, and it’s edging closer, then Twine will be joined by a winger that will complement City’s attacking options, and go some way to giving them one of the most exciting forward lines in the Championship.

Transfers are complex beasts, they take time, and can blow hot and cold on a near-daily basis resembling a rollercoaster ride, but the Twine deal coupled with the work going on behind the scenes to make sure he’s not the last before 11pm on September 1, could just capture the imagination further afield than East Yorkshire.