Following his recent departure from Fulham, Slovakian goalkeeper Marek Rodak is now a free agent and has attracted significant interest from Championship clubs.
Rodak, who spent over ten years at Craven Cottage, did not feature in the Premier League last season and is now seeking a new team. Given his extensive experience in the Championship and his free agent status, it’s unsurprising that several clubs in the second tier, including Derby County, Hull City, Blackburn Rovers, and Burnley, are keen on signing him. According to Alan Nixon on Patreon, Hull would need to meet Rodak’s wage demands to secure his services, though these demands have already deterred Burnley and remain an obstacle for Blackburn Rovers and Derby.
Former England international and current pundit Carlton Palmer believes Hull City is best positioned to meet Rodak’s wage expectations and sign him this summer. Speaking to Football League World, Palmer noted, “Hull City and Derby County are in the race to sign Fulham’s ex-goalkeeper Marek Rodak. He left Fulham after his contract expired, having made just two league appearances following their promotion two years ago.”
Palmer highlighted Hull’s urgent need for an experienced goalkeeper after selling Ryan Allsop to Birmingham City, while Derby County has also lost their top goalkeeper, Joe Wildsmith, to West Brom. Although Rodak was earning £15k a week at Fulham, he won’t be seeking that amount, but his wage expectations are still a hurdle for some clubs, including Derby and Blackburn.
Rodak could resurface on Burnley’s radar if James Trafford is sold, despite the arrival of Vaclav Hladky from Ipswich. However, Palmer doubts Burnley would pursue another goalkeeper given Hladky’s status as Ipswich’s first-choice keeper last season. Derby’s tight wage budget, with their highest earner believed to be James Collins on £8.5k a week, likely prices them out of the running for Rodak.
With three promotions under his belt, Rodak’s experience makes him an appealing option for a club like Hull City, which is aiming for promotion. Hull seems poised to make a significant effort to sign him, as they look to bolster their squad for a promotion push.
Hull City has had a challenging summer, losing key players like Jaden Philogene, Jacob Greaves, and Ozan Tufan. The only first-team signing so far has been Ryan Giles, highlighting the need for more additions, making Rodak a valuable target. Despite losing Ryan Allsop to Birmingham, Hull still has Ivor Pandur, Thimothee Lo-Tutala, and Harvey Cartwright, though Rodak would bring a higher level of experience.
Rodak’s arrival could allow Hull to loan out one of their younger goalkeepers for further development. Given the departures at the MKM Stadium, Hull might have the financial flexibility to meet Rodak’s wage demands, making his signing a feasible and strategic move.