Hull City full-back linked with European switch
Hull City defender James Furlong is being linked with a move to NK Maribor, as per a report by Sportklub Slovenija.
Hull City could loan out the left-back for next season to help him get some game time under his belt. They signed him 12 months ago from Brighton and Hove Albion but he has struggled for minutes.
Furlong, 22, is under contract at the MKM Stadium until June 2026 meaning he could still have a future in East Yorkshire. However, his chances of nailing down a place in their starting XI under their new manager Tim Walter in the next campaign are slim due to competition in his position.
In this latest update regarding his future by Slovenian news outlet Sportklub Solvenija, NK Maribor has emerged as a potential new temporary home for the full-back. They are a target for the Tigers’ owner Acun Ilicali as he looks to purchase another club.
Hull City defender eyed
Furlong played for St. Joseph’s Boys, Bray Wanderers and Shamrock Rovers as a youngster before moving over to England.
Brighton signed him in 2019 and he spent four years on the books at the AMEX Stadium.
The Republic of Ireland youth international was a regular for the Seagulls at various different youth levels and played once for their first-team.
He was loaned out to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership and played 16 matches before Hull City snapped him up on a permanent basis.
However, the Dublin-born man only featured once for the Tigers last term under their former boss Liam Rosenior.
He has to battle it out with Matty Jacob, Brandon Fleming, Jake Leake and potentially the returning Ryan Giles for his left-back position.
What next?
A move to Maribor could help boost Furlong’s development and give him some experience.
They play in the top flight in Slovenia and have recently finished 2nd in the table behind Celje.
If Ilicali is to take over at the Ljudski vrt, Furlong may not be the only Hull City player to make the switch over there, similarly to when the Turkish businessman bought Shelbourne in Ireland.
