Hull City-linked striker set for summer transfer amid growing interest by the Tigers contract talks were held
The Tigers will be eyeing attacking signings in the transfer market this term
Scottish Premiership outfit Hearts admit they may well have to sanction the sale of star striker Lawrence Shankland this summer and avoid the risk of losing him for free in 12 months time.
Shankland was strongly linked with a move to Hull City in January along with the Tigers’ Championship rivals Southampton and Middlesbrough, but the 28-year-old opted to stay at Tynecastle and continue his fine form.
It’s that fine form that alerted a host of clubs including City, and 29 goals and eight assists in 49 games for the Jam Tarts and the Tartan Army will only further enhance his stock ahead of a summer which will likely be filled with yet more speculation with the PFA Scotland Player of the Year set to be a big part of his country’s hopes at the Euros in Germany next month.
Attacking players will be firmly on the MKM Stadium shopping list once more this summer with the Edinburgh club reportedly valuing their marksman at £5m in January, and that value unlikely to drop significantly in the coming weeks.
Tynecastle boss Steven Naismith admits the club will need to address the situation in the coming weeks with the in-form frontman out of contract next summer. “He has a year left and the club will have a decision to make in terms of the bigger picture. We need to look ahead. We can’t have situations every year like Josh Ginnelly, where he comes to the end of his contract and we can’t do anything about it,” Naismith told the Edinburgh News.
“You have got to value him: What’s the worth of keeping a player for that last year? Is there an offer there? Does he want to sign a new contract? All these factors come in. There is a real calmness within the club about it all. There is an understanding of all the variations that can happen. One thing is for sure, as long as Shanks is here he will give one 100 per cent and he will lead by example as he has done all season.”
Hull City’s Greaves and Philogene transfer stance
Greaves is attracting transfer interest from both West Ham and Everton ahead of the summer market opening.
The centre-back featured 43 times for the team this season as they narrowly missed out on a play-off place, enhancing his reputation with his consistently high level of performance (all stats from Fbref).
Philogene has also boosted his profile with his displays in the Championship this year, especially with his impressive tally of 12 goals and six assists from 32 appearances.
Crystal Palace are among the sides reportedly monitoring the forward ahead of the market opening, whilst the Daily Mail’s Tom Collomosse reported Ajax’s interest in March, whilst Tottenham’s interest was reported around the same time.
Hull’s preference would be to keep both players beyond the summer window, but are willing to listen to offers if both push for a move.
City are planning a big summer of their own, with owner Acun Ilicali set to back the club by allowing for eight to 10 first team additions.
