Tigers open to selling young centre-back Everton are tracking
Everton are attempting to stave off strong interest, most of all from Manchester United, for Jarrad Branthwaite. But what if the England star were to leave for pastures new?
In such a situation the Toffees would need to try and find a replacement, a tall order given the outstanding talent Branthwaite possesses and the superb performances he produced last season.
The 'Carlise Kaiser' established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League in what was his debut season and formed an excellent partnership at the heart of the Blues defence with James Tarkowski.
His pace, positional sense, strong tackling, dominance in the air and assured passing make him a player of consumate defensive gifts.
Perhaps even more impressive though, was the consistent level-headed calmness and maturity he showed belying his youth and lack of experience at that level.
Losing him would be a big blow to Everton and Sean Dyche's strategy and tactics and would leave a massive gap in the centre of the manager's defence.
Replacing Branthwaite would be almost impossible it would seem, but there are talented defenders out there and so the Toffees would have to look at finding and bringing one of them in. Could Greaves be that player?
He has come off an excellent campaign with Hull City and he does appear to have many similar qualities and strengths to Branthwaite, even if he is not playing at the same level as the Everton star. In addition, he is left-footed too.
The 23-year-old is also young enough to improve and mature and it seems as though current club would not stand in the way of him seeking a move to the Premier League, so opening the door for the Toffees - and possibly other clubs - to bid for him.
Perhaps the ideal scenario would be for him to join this summer and spend a year or so developing ready to take Branthwaite's place if he departed then. Unfortunately, he may not have that time.
And furthermore, the Blues might have to bring in more than one new defender as Ben Godfrey recently rejected his contract offer and so could also leave this summer.