Following their victorious 1-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday over the weekend, former FL Championship side Hull City must prepare for their new life in the Premier League.
Hull City’s recent promotion has fans around Kingston jubilant. The Tigers suffered relegation last season from the Premier League but have now narrowly forced their way back into the England’s top tier.
Even though most clubs that achieve promotion are statistically favored to be relegated the following year, Hull might be a different story.
The Tigers were promoted along with Burnley and Middlesbrough. Out of the three, it is safe to claim that Hull has the most Premier League experience.
Players such as Tom Huddlestone, Michael Dawson, Jake Livermore have all experienced long-term careers in the Premier League. In fact, all three of the players listed were at some point major contributors for the Tottenham Hotspurs during their past Champions League run.
Hull City’s main priority this summer should be to retain their Premier League experience. Although most of the side had experienced England’s top level at some point in their careers, not all of them have played consistent minutes.
Rumors around the world are now suggesting that Hull may lose a number of valuable players.
For example, star striker Abel Hernandez may not return to England next season with reports of a move to Italy with either Bologna or former side Palermo.
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However, in an interview with Italian radio station TMW, the Uruguayan suggested that he could be staying with Hull after all. He commented:
“Last year there was talk of some new team. But honestly now I do not know if it’s time go back to Italy, I adapted well here. Obviously, if you were to get a top Italian club, I would not think too much. But for now I’m happy here and I think the next year in the Premier.”
The interiview implies that the 25-year-old most likely will be staying with Hull next season, but he did suggest that if a huge club comes after him, he’d be on his way out.
Furthermore, Hull City could be losing main full-back Andrew Roberton, who is attracting interest from UK’s top clubs. Scottish international Robert Snograss spoke about the 22-year-old’s potential move to BBC Radio saying:
“I hope he stays with us but it’ll be very hard to keep a hold of him.”
“We had a laugh and a joke about it, but the young kid, he’s in those positions and that’s the most important thing for me.”
“I said to him ‘don’t lose that’ because that is what’s got you here in the first place, that drive and ambition to be in that sort of area.”
The loss of Roberton would be dreadful for the Tigers, however, with new Premier League money, head coach Steve Bruce could potentially find a way to replace the Scotsman.
News of Hull City potentially signing their first player this summer may be coming sooner than expected. According to the Hull Daily Mail, Steve Bruce is ready to strengthen the goalkeeper position by signing Sheffield Wednesday’s Keiren Westwood.
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The report suggests that Wednesday may be willing to sell the 31-year-old for a price around £3 million.
Hull will not be the only side loooking to side the keeper, the report also suggests that rivals Everton, newly promoted side Middlesbrough, and West Brom are all uping their interest for Westwood.
Hull City have a lot to work to do before joining the Premier Leauge, but if they can keep together their core group of players as well as hand Steve Bruce the money to bring in new stars, the Tigers could achieve midtable success next season.