Don't be surprised if Aston Villa or Nottingham Forest renew Hull City transfer interest: View | OneFootball

Hull City will have to work hard to keep hold of Jacob Greaves in the summer, with the defender likely to be attracting interest from the Premier League for the second summer in succession.

Both Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest were said to be keen on the Tigers’ academy graduate last summer, and his performances in the current campaign will have only added to his transfer value.

The young centre back has been a mainstay in the heart of Liam Rosenior’s backline throughout the season, with seven clean sheets in his 34 appearances in 23/24 helping the Humberside club lead the race for the final playoff Championship playoff spot at time of writing.

Jacob Greaves' 2023/24 season

Hull currently sit in sixth spot in the second tier thanks to a run of just one defeat in their last eight league matches, with Greaves playing the protagonist in a defensive effort that has conceded just five goals in that time.

That defensive solidity is a key reason why the Tigers find themselves so high up the league, with only Leeds United letting in less than the ten goals Hull have in the Championship in 2024, after a number of assured performances from their young defensive star.

Accorind to FBRef, Greaves ranks among the top 20 defenders in the Championship for blocks this season, with the centre back throwing himself in front of anything and everything to earn his side the three points, while only five players have touched the ball more in the defensive third for their respective sides.

That second stat is one that stands out for Greaves; his assuredness on the ball has been key for helping Hull sustain possession and start attacks, while he isn’t afraid to take an opponent on when given the chance either.

That ability to take a player out the game with movement and ability on the ball is priceless at the top level, with every gap and sinew exploited at every opportunity, and Greaves is the sort of player that can make things happen when building from the back.

To rank among the top 50 players in the Championship for progressive passes - in a league that contains so much attacking flair and creativity - proves just how coveted a player like Greaves can be when in possession of the ball, while also keeping the opposition quiet at the other end.

Jacob Greaves transfer interest

A number of clubs from the Championship, Premier League and Europe have been said to have been monitoring Greaves’ progress in recent year, with Middlesbrough said to have had a £5 million bid rejected in the summer of 2022.

Villa and Forest were also said to be keeping tabs on the defender last summer, while AS Roma were also said have been interested while Jose Mourinho was in charge of the Italian giants.

The 23-year-old has a contract with his boyhood club until the summer of 2026; meaning it will take a substantial offer from any interested party to prize him away from Humberside in the summer, but they will be getting value for money.

As well as a composed ball-playing defender, any club signing Greaves will have a young talent that reads the game incredibly well and can sniff out danger at any opportunity.

With age on his side he is only going to get better, so an investment this summer will look like money well spent when he becomes a Premier League regular in the next few years.

The local lad will be hoping he can get to the promised land with Hull first though, and if he can keep up his dominant performances at the back he will become even more in-demand when the summer comes around.