Acun Ilicali has only just settled on the white leather sofa in the 10th-floor lounge of the Four Seasons Hotel in London when he suddenly bursts into song.
'We're singing for England… En-ger-land!' chants the incoming owner of Hull City. 'Catch me if you can, 'cause I'm the England man!'
Listening to Ilicali's rendition of World in Motion, it is immediately obvious life at Hull is not going to be dull. There is, though, a reason why he is performing John Barnes' rap from England's 1990 World Cup anthem - and it has nothing to do with him being the presenter of Turkey's version of The Voice.
Prospective Hull City owner Acun Ilicali (above) has opened up to Sportsmail about his plans
The 52-year-old is expected to take over the Tigers in a £30million deal in just a matter of days
'At World Cups, England are one of the two countries I support. I remember the big success of 1990, with Gascoigne and Lineker, and the song they made,' explains the TV tycoon, who boasts 13.4million Instagram followers and has been dubbed the 'Turkish Simon Cowell' for being the brains behind his country's biggest reality shows.
'I have always been in love with English football so when I had the power and finance level, I decided to buy a club from England. I wanted to feel this English football fully in my blood. To buy a team was my dream.'
The 52-year-old is set to fulfil that dream in the coming days when he expects to complete his protracted £30million takeover of Hull, ending the unpopular reign of Assem Allam after more than 11 years. But just why has the globetrotting self-made millionaire landed his private jet in East Yorkshire?
'I was checking which club was best for me – I looked at about five,' admits Ilicali, sitting with Sportsmail in an understated black jumper, jeans and white trainers.
The Turkish TV tycoon had the choice of five football clubs to take over - but chose the Tigers
'I knew Hull when they were in the Premier League but I just wanted to go and see where the city was and what it was like.
'It was in June that I first came and from the minute I landed, everything made me feel so good. I loved the stadium and the people. I got such a good vibe from the city.
'Hull has the Humber Bridge like Istanbul has the Bosphorus Bridge. That is another sign of destiny. Even the shirt colours attracted me so much. I was with my brother and I said, "This is my city and this is my team".'
Ilicali witnessed his team first hand at the MKM Stadium last Saturday when they lost 3-2 in the FA Cup against Everton after extra time. Grant McCann's side, who won League One last season, are currently 19th in the Championship, four points above the relegation zone, but their owner-in-waiting is only looking up not down.
Ilicali (right) was present to watch Hull's extra-time FA Cup defeat to Everton last weekend
'In my whole career, I have never been unsuccessful,' says Ilicali. 'Every year was better than the previous one.
'I brought the biggest stars of Hollywood onto my shows just to entertain people. I am most happy when I entertain people so Hull is my new target to entertain these beautiful people.
'I wouldn't say that it will happen in one year, but our full concentration will be the Premier League starting from next year. That is the first target but, trust me, if we can go to the Premier League, we will not be one of the favourites to be relegated. Our aim will be to push the top six teams.
'I would say there is nothing Hull doesn't have that Leicester have. I really appreciate Leicester's performance in the last years and I can say that we are the candidate to be the next Leicester. This team has the potential to win trophies.'
Ilicali claims Hull are capable of winning trophies and emulating the success of Leicester City
Such ambition will be music to the ears of City supporters, who have stayed away from the MKM Stadium in their droves because of anger at the way the club was run by the Allam family, not least how they tried to change the name from Hull City to Hull Tigers.
'I am not here to make money,' insists Ilicali. 'None of my plans depend on how much I make. If I do something, it will be for the good of Hull City.
'We need to make some transfers. I already have good connections now. We want to make, not the most expensive, but the correct transfers and go
