Hull City transfer clarity needed sooner rather than later after Acun Ilicali's plea to star man

Acun Ilicali has set his stall well and truly out surrounding the future of Jacob Greaves, the Hull City defender who is the subject of growing interest.

In the closing stages of Tuesday's press conference to launch Tim Walter's tenure at City, Ilicali spoke directly to Greaves and urged the 23-year-old to stand by his hometown club and remain at the MKM Stadium for one more season, at least, and help guide the Tigers to the Premier League.

Greaves, a near-ever-present last season missing just three games through suspension, was exceptional. His performances for City saw him scoop a trio of awards at the club's end-of-season awards, but perhaps the biggest of all was being named in the Championship Team of the Season, recognition for what was an outstanding campaign.

READ MORE: Tim Walter tells Hull City players what to expect from his 'different' style of play

The City academy graduate has made his feelings known privately about his desire to go and play in the Premier League, and though more than anything, he'd want to do that with the Tigers, he also knows a footballer's career can be short and there are so many variables that cannot be controlled.

West Ham, Everton and Nottingham Forest have shown interest and there are others keeping tabs on the situation, and with such strong interest, it's no surprise Greaves will be tempted. A move to the Premier League can change a player's life completely, both on the pitch and off it.

Burnley are another club eyeing him up, but like Middlesbrough 24 months ago, a move to Turf Moor would be a sideways one. If he's to leave the MKM Stadium, it has be to a top-flight club.

Financially, playing in the top flight can make a dramatic difference, and then there's the fact you're playing with world-class players inside the very best stadiums in the world to an audience of billions across the planet, it's a big step in a short career and one you cannot stand in the way of.

Greaves will be wrestling with his loyalty to City, the club who have been a fundamental part of his family's life for decades, the desire to stay and have another crack at promotion, against that burning desire to go and play in Europe's best league, knowing he's more than ready for the challenge.

One note of caution that may play into City's hands this summer is that Greaves will have seen what happened to his close pal Keane Lewis-Potter, and how it's taken a little longer than planned for him to establish himself as part of Brentford's first team setup. Having moved from the MKM Stadium to West London, Lewis-Potter spent a period of time on the periphery before being handed his chance by Thomas Frank in the latter stages of this season.

What Greaves won't want to do is go and be a bench-warmer in the top flight, while he's also got the benefit of being two years older than Lewis-Potter was when he left City at the age of 21 in July 2022; if he moves, he's going to play.

Few could argue Greaves, having played more than 200 career games so far (177 at City), deserves his chance. Nobody of a Tigers' persuasion wants him to go, of course not, but equally, you cannot begrudge a player of his talent the chance to go and test himself at a higher level. As people, we all want to improve, work with the best and be the best we can be, and he's no different.

While reluctant to allow him to move on, particularly given how influential he is, City also know that financially, it would help, provided the incoming fee is significant. A fee in excess of £15m would allow Tim Walter to invest, not only in a replacement but more importantly, elsewhere in the squad, especially up front.

Promotion-winner Scott McKenna, just released by Nottingham Forest, would represent a smart piece of business, while the likes of Andy Smith and Stan Ashbee would be afforded the chance to step up into those rather large shoes and grasp their chance.

This decision will not be an easy one, for player or for club, but it's one you feel will need to be made in the coming weeks to give the club clarity on where they stand going forward.