Hull City Targets Toni Fruk Amid Ajax Interest

Hull City’s first summer in the Premier League spotlight is starting to feel very real. The newly promoted club are deep in talks over a move for Rijeka playmaker Toni Fruk, with negotiations under way as they test the conditions of a possible deal for the Croatian attacking midfielder.

The interest is serious. The race is even more serious.

Reports first surfaced via TeamTalk, and the picture that has emerged since is clear enough: Hull are firmly in the conversation, but they are not alone and the deal is nowhere near done. What looked at first glance like a straightforward move has quickly turned into a crowded chase.

A rising creator in demand

Fruk, 25, has become a key name on Hull’s recruitment list as they look to inject more invention into their midfield ahead of a demanding return to the top flight. At Rijeka he has built a reputation for vision between the lines, sharp final passes and a steady stream of attacking contributions. He looks like exactly the type of player a promoted side needs if it wants to do more than simply hang on.

Yet those close to the negotiations are urging calm. One Rijeka insider has stressed that “a deal is not as close as people are making out”, a pointed reminder that Hull are still in the early stages of the process. Talks are active, but this is not a medical-and-photoshoot situation.

And the field is crowded. Two other Premier League clubs have registered strong interest, while Dutch giants Ajax have also made contact. All four clubs have been in touch with Rijeka in recent days, turning what might have been a quiet approach into a full-scale contest.

That changes the dynamic. Rival bidders drive up the pressure, the pace and the price.

Rijeka stand firm as Hull weigh the cost

Rijeka know what they have. Fruk is one of their most important players, and they are expected to hold their ground on valuation despite the midfielder entering the final year of his contract. The Croatian side are seeking a fee in the region of £8–10 million, a figure that reflects both his influence and the market reality for a creative talent in his prime.

For Hull, that number is significant but not outrageous. It is the going rate for a player capable of stepping straight into a Premier League squad and lifting its technical level. It is also the kind of fee that tests how serious a promoted club really is about establishing itself rather than making up the numbers.

The competition means hesitation comes at a cost. If Hull truly want Fruk, they will need to move with conviction.

Jakirovic connection gives Hull an angle

This pursuit is not happening in isolation. Hull’s interest in Fruk sits within a broader summer plan. After promotion, the club are targeting upgrades across the pitch, and creativity in midfield is clearly high on the agenda. The intention is to add several new faces over the coming weeks and build a squad capable of surviving, and then growing, in the Premier League.

There is also a crucial personal link. Manager Sergej Jakirovic knows Fruk well from their time together at Rijeka and is understood to see him as a natural fit for the creative role he wants to fill in this Hull side. That familiarity matters. It suggests this is not a speculative punt, but a targeted move for a player the coach believes he can plug straight into his system.

For Fruk, the prospect of reuniting with a manager who trusts him is thought to be appealing. That existing relationship may give Hull a subtle edge in a tight race, especially when stacked against clubs who can offer bigger reputations but less certainty over role and status.

Ajax interest raises the stakes

Then there is Ajax. Their presence in any transfer story changes the mood. The Dutch club’s track record with attacking players and their platform in European competition make them a powerful draw for any ambitious midfielder.

Their interest ramps up the pressure on Hull. It is one thing to outbid or out-argue domestic rivals; it is another to persuade a creative talent to pick a survival fight in the Premier League over a move to Amsterdam and regular European football.

Fruk, though, is expected to handle the situation with care. He will not push for an exit at any cost or disrespect Rijeka, the club where he has made 139 appearances and scored 32 goals. Any move will have to be right for all parties: fee agreed, timing acceptable, next step convincing.

For Hull, the path is straightforward in theory and complicated in practice. Match the asking price. Present a clear football plan. Convince Fruk that this is the moment to jump to England and that Jakirovic’s project is the right stage for his prime years.

Talks are ongoing. Ajax are circling. Premier League rivals are lurking. And Toni Fruk, one of Rijeka’s standout talents, looks increasingly likely to be on the move before the summer is out.

Hull City now have a choice: step fully into this market and make a statement, or watch a player who fits their manager’s blueprint slip away to a rival with fewer doubts.