Hull City are facing a hugely important transfer window and Grant McCann will need to identify the right sort of signings to make to improve his squad ahead of their return to the Championship.

The Tigers will be needing to build on the progress that has been made in League One this season and they know they have to bring in quality additions to avoid another difficult campaign in the Championship.

Finances around the game at the moment are going to make signing players ever more challenging this summer, and therefore it could be vital that clubs use the free-agents market diligently to identify the right sort of targets to bring in.

With that in mind, we have put together a list of nine free-agents that should be on Hull’s radar this summer…

One key area that Hull will need to strengthen this summer is in midfield. The Tigers have already been linked with a potential move for George Moncur following his departure from Luton Town. That came after the Championship side decided against offering him a new deal.

Moncur is someone who McCann is already well familiar with having signed him on loan when he was in charge for Peterborough United.

The midfielder is someone that can provide an extra creative spark in possession and he can make things happen when he is on the ball if he is given the right sort of service.

This is a signing that looks possible to come off and it is one that would be a smart addition to the squad ahead of next season. Moncur knows the Championship and he will be keen to prove a point to Luton and show that they were wrong to allow him to leave this summer.

Another potential option for Hull to consider this summer in the middle of the park, out of the out-of-contract players that are available, is midfielder Ryan Wintle.

The 23-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season in League One but has rejected the offer of a new deal and is set to leave them during in the summer transfer window.

It has already been reported that the likes of Cardiff City, Peterborough United, Portsmouth, Bristol City and Reading could be interested in making a move for Wintle this summer.

That comes with the 23-year-old having shown that he has the potential to make the step up to the Championship with his performances for Crewe this term.

Wintle is the right sort of profile of player for Hull to be signing this summer, with the midfielder having plenty of time to be developed further and be sold on for a large profit.

It would not be easy to secure his signature but he would be an excellent addition for them to make and add plenty of quality to their midfield options.

The final midfield option that Hull might want to take a look at this summer that we will explore here is Liam Walsh.

The 23-year-old has been allowed to leave Bristol City at the end of his current deal at Ashton Gate and is someone that would be an excellent potential pick up for a host of sides.

It has already been reported that both Swansea City and Coventry City are interested in making a potential move to sign Walsh this summer on a free transfer.

That comes with the midfielder having endured an injury-hit campaign with Bristol City. However, he was able to shown in his loan spell with the Sky Blues in 2019/20 that he is a quality player in possession and has plenty of potential.

Walsh would not be a signing that Hull would find easy to make, but the 23-year-old would enhance their quality in the middle of the park for sure. He would also have room to be developed meaning he could prove to be a bargain addition if he is signed.

Another area of the squad that Hull might want to address this summer is in the attacking third. One potential option for them to look to bring into the club in that area is Kyle Edwards.

That comes after he has been allowed to leave West Brom at the end of his current deal. He is a player that has shown glimpses of his potential with the Baggies, and he did play a part in helping them earn promotion to the Premier League during the 2019/20 campaign.

Edwards scored twice in 26 games in the Championship that term, and that shows that if he got more regular game time he could be a threat in the English second tier.

The winger needs to find a club where he will now be given chances to feature regularly, and with Hull, he would get that chance you feel. This could be a move that works out really well for both parties if it happened. It would be a gamble for the Tigers that might well pay off if he performs well at the KCOM Stadium.

Another potential option that Hull City might want to consider this summer in the attacking positions is Jordan Graham.

That comes with the winger having now rejected the offer of a contract extension at Gillingham and he is now set to leave on a free transfer this summer.

There have already been reports that Birmingham City are potentially interested in making a move for him after his impressive form in League One this season.

The attacker has been able to rebuild his reputation at Gillingham this term and he has managed to show he is a class above the third tier with his 12 goals and six assists in 39 league appearances.

Hull might struggle to sign him ahead of someone like Birmingham, but surely he is worth trying to recruit this summer for the Tigers. Graham is a player that if McCann could unlock his best form might well be able to make a crucial difference in tight matches for them.

Left-back is another position that Hull might have to take a look at in the summer transfer window.

That comes with their being plenty of reports linking Callum Elder with a potential move away from the KCOM Stadium this summer. The likes of Derby County, Huddersfield Town and Preston have been credited with an interest in him.

One potential option that Hull could turn to replace him if he leaves this summer is Denver Hume. The 22-year-old is set to be available on a free transfer with his contract with Sunderland running down.

The defender might potentially have the ability to step up to the Championship and fill the sizeable gap that might be left behind by Elder leaving.

Hume has shown flashes of his quality at Sunderland over the last few years in League One, but at times has struggled with consistency. However, there is a player there that Hull could develop and look to bring out his best form.

Given his age and potential it has got to be a signing that is worth considering if Elder does leave the KCOM Stadium.

On the subject of Sunderland players, another potentially ambitious move that Hull could consider this summer is to try and convince Luke O’Nien to join them in the Championship next term.

That comes with him set to be a free agent after his contract expires with the Black Cats.

It has been reported that all of Luton Town, Millwall, Middlesbrough and Preston North End are interested in taking advantage of his potential availability this summer.

O’Nien has been arguably Sunderland’s best performer in League One this season and having shown his quality and flexibility to play in numerous positions and do an effective job.

He is the sort of player that would become an instant fan faviourite at any club. That means he would offer Hull plenty of quality and also the ability to cover various positions in their squad. It would be very hard to secure his signature, but surely Hull should at least try and make a move for him.

Another potentially promising signing that Hull could look to make this summer is defender Matt Olosunde. The right-back set to be available on a free after his contract with Rotherham United comes to an end.

Olosunde is a player that has shown a lot of potential with his performances for the Millers and he has already played a vital role in helping Rotherham secure promotion to the Championship in 2019/20.

This term, the 23-year-old managed to make 32 league appearances and provided three assists in those games and that shows the attacking threat he can be from right-back.

The defender is someone with a lot of potential to be developed further, like others on this list, and that means that there is room for him to increase in value and return a healthy profit in the future.

Hull might want to take a look because he could give them the option of playing with wing-backs or a back four and that offers more flexibility for McCann.

The final player that Hull might want to consider signing this summer that we will look at in this list is forward Chuks Aneke.

That comes with him set to leave Charlton Athletic at the end of his current deal with the Addicks.

There have already been reports that the likes of Middlesbrough, Reading, QPR and Bristol City are amongst the teams that are interested in making a move for the forward this summer.

While the same report outlined that Aneke is believing a return to the English second tier would be the right sort of move for his career development.

Hull would struggle to convince him to make the move to this summer potentially, but you have to feel that Aneke is someone that could add quality to their existing attacking options if they were able to bring him in.

After scoring 15 goals in the third tier this season, he has shown he could be ready to make the step up to the Championship.