Brentford have signed Keane Lewis-Potter from Hull City for a club-record fee, which gives Tigers boss Shota Arveladze funds to use on re-signing these former MKM Stadium players.
Lewis-Potter has joined the Bees for an initial £16m, rising up to £20m should he trigger all add-ons. The 21-year-old has also put pen to paper on a six-year contract with the Premier League side, which includes the option for a seventh campaign in west London in 2028/29.
- Crystal Palace’s 22/23 XI with £20M West Ham target leading 4 new signings
- Jude Bellingham and Celtic ace lead Birmingham XI if they ket their top stars
Brentford have fended off strong competition to sign Lewis-Potter from Hull following the Tigers product’s productive Championship season last term. He offered 12 goals and three assists from 46 second-tier appearances, spread between both wings and from the centre.
West Ham United were among the clubs rivalling Brentford to sign Lewis-Potter from Hull, per 90min. Watford had also explored keeping the England U21 gem in the Championship after their relegation. The Daily Mail also cited Everton as an option and iNews cited Leeds.
Arveladze has already added to his squad with Allahyar Sayyadmanesh, Ozan Tufan, Jean Michael Seri, Tobias Figueiredo and Nathan Baxter. But with Brentford now signing Lewis-Potter, Hull have further funds Arveladze can use to re-sign these former Tigers players…
Hull should re-sign Bowler to replace new Brentford signing Lewis-Potter
Hull should now attempt to re-sign Josh Bowler of Blackpool to help Arveladze replace new Brentford signing Lewis-Potter. The 23-year-old joined the Seasiders last year after leaving Everton, and offered a solid return with seven goals and three assists in 42 league games.
Bowler spent a brief spell at the MKM Stadium on loan from Everton back in 2019/20, but did not prove as creative. The winger only scored once and created one goal across his 28 second-tier appearances for the Tigers. Yet he has clearly developed with age and minutes.
Now, Bournemouth are considering Bowler for the Premier League following the Cherries’ promotion, per The Sun. Yet Scott Parker intends to offer £1m with the Chertsey-born star under contract to 2023. He had offered £3m in January, but wants to keep spending down.
Hull can re-sign Cairney to help replace impact of Brentford signing Lewis-Potter
Hull could also look to re-sign Tom Cairney of Fulham to help replace the creativity of new Brentford signing Lewis-Potter. The Cottagers captain led the west London natives to the 2021/22 Championship title with his three goals and four assists over 26 games in midfield.
But Cairney only started 16 of his appearances and missed 19 second-tier fixtures through injury. He has also struggled to make the step up to the Premier League in the past, as the 31-year-old only has three goals and two assists in 52 career top-flight appearances so far.
The two-cap Scotland maestro additionally struck one of his career top-flight goals across 11 appearances with Hull in 2009/10. Cairney later left the MKM Stadium for Blackburn in 2014 before hopping down to Fulham a year later, and remains under contract until 2024.
Hull should re-sign Clucas with funds from Brentford signing Lewis-Potter
Hull should also look to re-sign Sam Clucas of Stoke City with the funds Arveladze has after Brentford signed Lewis-Potter. The 31-year-old moved to the Potters from Swansea City in 2018 for £6m. But Clucas is now in the final year of the contract extension agreed in 2021.
Swansea only called on Clucas’ services for a season after signing the midfielder from Hull for £15m, plus £1.5m in add-ons, in 2017. He had made 96 appearances with the Tigers for nine goals and 10 assists across all competitions after joining from Chesterfield in 2015.
Clucas has since struck 19 goals and created a further 15 for Stoke over 129 appearances in all competitions. Yet the Lincoln native fell out of favour last season and only started 16 of his 25 Championship outings. So, he could now consider leaving for pastures new this year.
Arveladze can improve Hull defence by re-signing Stoke star Tymon
Arveladze can also raid Stoke to re-sign former Hull star Josh Tymon to improve the Tigers’ defence this year. The 23-year-old enjoyed a creative campaign from full-back last term for four assists and three goals in 49 games, including four assists in 44 Championship outings.
Tymon returning to the MKM Stadium after five years away would also offer Arveladze an option to field throughout the left-hand channel. The former England U20 international is adept at playing more advanced left-flank positions than full-back, and in central midfield.
The Hull native rarely displayed his potential for the Tigers, though, having only featured in 14 games for 820 minutes. Tymon would leave Hull for Stoke in 2017, and remains under contract until 2025 having penned a four-year extension with the Potters last November.
Hull should consider re-signing Kingsley after two year absence
Hull should also consider re-signing Stephen Kingsley two years after the centre-back left the MKM Stadium for Hearts. He enjoyed three seasons with the Tigers after arriving from Swansea on the same day as Clucas’ departure in 2017, and went on to play in 46 matches.
Persistent fitness problems, including a hip injury, derailed Kingsley’s time at Hull after his £3m arrival from the Jacks. But the one-cap Scotland defender has found regular minutes at Hearts for 69 appearances to date. He has also offered 12 goals and laid on two assists.
Arveladze should now consider offering Kingsley another chance at Hull with the funds on offer with Brentford signing Lewis-Potter. The 27-year-old would offer the Tigers an option at centre- and left-back to bolster a unit that ranked 12th in the Championship last season.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
