According to an Italian report, Hull have given Championship side Aston Villa until Friday to arrange a deal to sign striker Abel Hernandez.

The website Tutto Mercato believe the team have issued this ultimatum. Villa have been rumoured to be after the Uruguay international for some time.

Discussions mentioning him intensified as Hernandez did miss Hull’s latest game against Exeter in the EFL Cup, but coach Stephen Clemence said this was a ‘football decision’ by Mike Phelan as he had a ‘slight’ groin injury.

The club did say when announcing the teams that Hernandez had simply been given a rest.

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Hull’s record signing Hernandez has been with the club since signing from Palermo for a fee thought to be around £10 million in September 2014.

He would interest the Midlands side as he scored 22 goals in 45 Championship appearances and has form in scoring important goals in the league. However, the team due already have Ross McCormack and Rudy Gestede to fill this position.

The 26-year-old has been an important player for the team during the last year and scored his first Premier League goal of the season against Swansea at the weekend.

Hull’s only other attacker is Adama Diomande, and although he has scored three goals in his last three games, it would be a risk to solely rely on him.

Other options include youngsters Greg Luer and Jarrod Bowen, but selling Hernandez would surely force Hull into the transfer market to try and sign a striker themselves. This could be a hard task with just under a week of the transfer window remaining.