Middlesbrough insider gives lowdown on Ryan Giles' Hull City transfer

Hull City completed the first signing of the Tim Walter era on Thursday afternoon, triggering an option to turn Ryan Giles' loan deal from Luton Town into a permanent move. The attacking left-back joined the Tigers in January, making 17 Championship appearances for the club as they finished one place outside the play-off places.

Giles penned a three-year contract, with the option of an extra year. It is believed City have paid £4m to the Hatters for the transfer which was understood to have been an obligation as part of the loan agreement.

But the Tigers' Championship rivals Middlesbrough are monitoring Giles' situation and have not given up hope of bringing him back to Teesside. Giles enjoyed a superb loan spell at Boro during the 2022/23 campaign as the club finished in the play-offs.

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Craig Johns, the Middlesbrough reporter for our sister title Teesside Live, wrote: "As far as Boro's hopes of re-signing Giles this summer are concerned though, they remain unchanged, with the expectation always that Giles would initially sign for the Tigers. As was always the case, Boro will continue to monitor Giles's situation at the MKM Stadium and know the player has interest in returning to Boro if things don't work out at Hull.

"Why Boro believe there are legs in such a deal centres around numerous factors. Hull have a new manager this summer in Tim Walter and, at this stage, with Giles set to link up with Hull for the start of pre-season next week, there is uncertainty as to whether he will be part of their plans.

"Under Liam Rosenior last season, he struggled to make as positive an impression as he would have liked and didn't start any of the final seven games of the season. Matty Jacob was preferred and he signed a new three-year deal at the club in March.

"Of course, a new manager with new ideas brings fresh opportunities for Giles and therefore he will spend the weeks leading up to the new Championship season trying to impress Walter to cement his place in the Hull team. However, in the event that Walter decides Giles will not be an important player for him next season, that's when Boro's chances of re-signing the 24-year-old would become live."