Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has revealed how Inter Milan star Hakan Çalhanoğlu played a key role in bringing Tim Walter to the MKM Stadium.

Walter was appointed as the Tigers’ new coach just over a week ago with the German chief meeting the media for the first time on Tuesday before officially beginning work on July 1 when the players return for pre-season training.

The former Hamburg head coach was the number one target from the moment Rosenior was given his marching orders after the Championship campaign ended, and City missed out on the Championship’s top six.

While other managers were spoken to and numerous bosses declared their interest in replacing Rosenior, Walter was the number one target from day one and will be charged with bettering the seventh-placed finish the Tigers achieved in the campaign just gone.