The owner of Hull City has outlined his thoughts on the potential sale of a talented centre-back it is claimed is being monitored by Everton.
Jacob Greaves earned a spot in the Championship team of the season after a fine campaign in which the Tigers almost reached the play-offs.
The 23-year-old has been tracked by a host of Premier League clubs with reports on Humberside identifying Everton as one of the clubs keeping tabs on him.
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The extent of any interest the Blues will have in centre-backs this summer will depend on the future of Jarrad Branthwaite. The 21-year-old has formed an impressive partnership with James Tarkowski – one that saw Everton boast one of the top-flight’s best defences last season. It also provided a platform for Branthwaite to push into the senior England squad.
His emergence as one of Europe’s hottest defensive prospects has sparked interest and Manchester United were the first to act by submitting an opening bid on Friday, the first day of the summer transfer window. The offer, for £35m with around £8m in add-ons, was deemed unacceptable by the the Blues, who were set to reject it.
Everton are braced for further interest in their starlet. The club’s current financial situation means manager Sean Dyche and director of football Kevin Thelwell have other areas to prioritise their efforts beyond centre-back. Michael Keane is trusted by Dyche as back-up but there are questions over the futures of Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate. But contingency planning in the event of more serious interest in Branthwaite emerging is sensible, with Lyon defender Jake O’Brien another player Everton have followed.
It is the fear that Greaves could become a genuine target that led to Hull owner Acun Ilicali outlining his thoughts. In an interview with Hull Live, he said he was prepared for a battle to retain Greaves – and his sought after team-mate Jaden Philogene – this summer.
He added: “He’s [executive vice chairman Tan Kesler] feeling like there will be some offers coming and I will underline something again; if you ask me, I will never sell them. The only reason (I will sell them) they will come to me and say that they want to go.
“I advised (Keane Lewis) Potter not to go, and if he had stayed that year, it would be good for him and us together and one year later, he could go. Again, about these boys (Greaves and Philogene) if they feel like they’re going to play and they’re going to be successful for me, their future is more important always above my benefits.
“Greaves wants to play in the Premier League. He’s such a nice boy, he just said to me (his wish to play in the Premier League). I love him as a character. He’s a real captain. I address him from here. Greaves, we need you. You are so good and please be with us, but if his brain and soul are completely with another club, we will not stop him.”