Steve Bruce makes £20m+ transfer claim for Everton-linked Hull City ace Jacob Greaves
Steve Bruce has predicted it will take a fee north of £20million to convince Hull City to part ways with reported Everton target Jacob Greaves this summer.
Greaves was without doubt one of the Tigers’ best players last season and was awarded with the club’s Player of the Season award.
The 23-year-old has been subject to rumours linking him with a move to Merseyside this summer [HITC, 14 June] with the future of Jarrad Branthwaite also up in the air after it was revealed that the defender was “super keen” on a move to Manchester United [Fabrizio Romano, 18 June].
“Can he do better than he’s done this season? If you’re telling me he’s played 50 games, won Player of the Season, been named in the Championship’s Team of the Season, then of course, every player wants to play at the highest level,” former Hull Bruce said in quotes reported by Hull Live (19 June).
“I’m sure he must be thinking to himself, there’s a big opportunity here for me because there’s not many (left-sided defenders).
“The kid Branthwaite, have they turned down £45m? He was at Carlisle, and I should have taken him – he was on our doorstep at Newcastle and he was only £1.5m or £2m when he went to Everton.
“He’s flourished and he’s now at £45m all of a sudden? The thing is, he’s been there and done it in the Premier League whereas the boy Greaves (has not). It will probably take a cheque, probably north of £20m now to even consider it I would have thought.”
Why Everton should throw everything at Hull City star Jacob Greaves this summer
While no one associated with Everton wants to see Branthwaite depart this summer, there is a sad reality that he may not be at the club come the end of the transfer window.
The defender was among Sean Dyche’s best players players last season and became pivotal to Everton’s defensive line.
If Everton and United do reach an agreement on Branthwaite, albeit there is clearly a lot of work to be done for that to happen, then they should be focusing on making Greaves his replacement.
The defender was a brick wall in Liam Rosenior’s defence last season across the 43 Championship games he played last term.
When looking at last season’s statistics from both the Premier League and the Championship for the duo, the two are much closer than you may think.
As per Sofascore, Branthwaite averaged a total of 1.9 tackles per game and managed to intercept the ball a total of 1.4 times.
Greaves on the other hand, averaged a total of 1.8 tackles and 1.0 interceptions. Granted, there is a gulf In quality from the top tier compared to the Championship, however, at 23-years-old, Greaves’ numbers are decent.
Hence, why Everton should be doing all they can to see him represent the blue half of Merseyside this summer.
In other Everton news, ex-Toffees man Andros Townsend has shared his thoughts on a possible Amadou Onana exit this summer.
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