Exclusive: Liam Cooper move to Hull City collapses
Liam Cooper’s proposed move to join Hull City on a free transfer has collapsed, sources have told Football Insider.
Talks with the 32-year-old had reached an advanced stage and all parties were keen on the move, but no agreement could be reached.
The defender was in owner Ali Acun Ilicali’s box at the MKM Stadium for the 0-0 draw against Millwall, but as it stands, the deal is now completely off.
Cooper left Leeds United after his contract expired earlier this summer as he was unable to agree to an extension under Daniel Farke.
As a result, the centre-back remains available on a free transfer with several Championship sides said to be considering a move to sign him.
Given his status as a free agent, any deal for Cooper will not have to be completed before Friday’s (30 August) 11pm deadline.
Hull saw star defender Jacob Greaves leave to join Ipswich Town earlier in the window and are looking to strengthen in his position as the window draws to a close.
Hull City deal to sign Liam Cooper falls through after advanced talks
Cooper had been at Leeds for ten years since joining in 2014, but started his career at Hull after coming through their academy setup.
He made his senior debut for the Tigers as a 16-year-old in 2008, but made just 17 appearances for the club before moving on.
The defender went on to make 284 appearances during his ten-year spell at Elland Road after making the move back to Yorkshire from Chesterfield.
During that time, he helped the club achieve promotion back to the Premier League in 2020 before they were relegated again in 2023.
He featured just 19 times under Farke last time out, with his influence on the pitch beginning to fade despite his role as club captain.
The boss had spoken highly of his impact in the dressing room, but both parties ultimately decided it was time to move on upon the expiry of his contract.
He is now searching for a new club, but talks with Hull have fallen through at a late stage.
Following Greaves’ departure, the Tigers moved to sign Chelsea’s Mason Burstow on a permanent deal and Man City’s Finley Burns on loan, but had targeted Cooper to bring experience to their back line.
They are aiming to reach the playoffs this season after narrowly missing out, and Cooper’s previous experience with promotion was viewed as a valuable asset.
In other news, multiple Championship clubs are pushing to sign an Ipswich centre-back.
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