Hull City vice-chairman Tan Kesler has played down a raid of Championship rivals Southampton for Will Smallbone while describing the midfielder as ‘not a live target’.
While relegation from the Premier League almost certainly brings an end to the Saints careers of Romeo Lavia, Armel Bella-Kotchap and James Ward-Prowse, it also opens up a window of opportunity for those who otherwise may have found themselves facing up to an exit.
Take Will Smallbone, for instance.
The 23-year-old Republic of Ireland international impressed on loan at Stoke City last term, and can now present himself to Southampton’s new head coach – likely to be Russell Martin – as a player with a proven track record in England’s second tier.
Southampton must make Will Smallbone call
“I don’t think anything has been announced yet (with regards to the new coach),” Smallbone told the Irish Independent a fortnight ago. “So I’m not sure what’s going on down there.
“I’ll wait for Southampton to appoint a manager. And, like everyone else, (I) have a conversation with him to see where he sees me. What’s important for me next season is to carry on playing football.”
Smallbone’s energy and technical ability should appeal to Martin. His Swansea side averaged the second-highest possession figures in the Championship behind league winners Burnley in 2022/23.
Hull City, meanwhile, are playing down reports suggesting that the Tigers could offer Smallbone a fresh start on Humberside.
“He’s not a live target,” Kesler tells the Hull Daily Mail. “But he’s one of the players available in the market that we’ve thought about and talked about.
“But I also don’t want to create any animosity by making comments.”
Kesler was certainly more open when discussing his pursuit of a new goalkeeper however. Newcastle’s Karl Darlow and Manchester United’s Tom Heaton, he says, are high on Hull’s wishlist.
Southampton, meanwhile, could bring in further competition for Smallbone in the midfield area with Swansea duo Matt Grimes and Jay Fulton tipped to follow Martin to the banks of the Solent.
Saints starlet Kazeem Olaigbe is also on the verge of leaving for Standard Liege.
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