Town’s move for Hull City centre-half Jacob Greaves is now reportedly being treated as a separate deal from Jaden Philogene’s switch from the Tigers and looks set to be completed before the weekend.
The Blues had come to a joint agreement with the Championship side for Greaves and winger Philogene worth between £35 and £40 million initially plus top-ups.
As previously reported, Greaves was in Suffolk to undergo his medical over the weekend with the deal essentially done the player having agreed terms on a five-year deal at Portman Road.
It had been expected that the Greaves deal would be confirmed as soon as Philogene’s switch was completed, however, with the former England U21 international wideman’s situation still up in the air, The Athletic is reporting that the defender’s move is now set to go through as a separate transaction with around £15 million up front plus a further £3 million in add-ons.
The Blues looked to be closing in on signing Philogene earlier in the week until his former club Aston Villa activated the matching clause included in the £5 million deal they did with the Tigers last summer. A move back to Villa looks set to be confirmed next week.
Town appear likely to want the Greaves deal done so the centre-half is signed up in time to make the trip to Austria for the pre-season training camp over the weekend.
The Blues will similarly be looking to get the final details on striker Liam Delap’s £15 million switch from Manchester City over the line so the former Hull City loanee can also join up with his new teammates in Austria.
Cottingham-born Greaves, 23, the son of former Hull City and York City defender Mark Greaves, came through the ranks at his local club, spending time on loan with Cheltenham in 2019/20.
In 2023/24, his fourth campaign in the Tigers’ first team, he was was named in the EFL Championship Team of the Season and also carried off his club’s Player of the Year award. Everton and Tottenham have also been linked. Greaves is contracted to Hull until the summer of 2026 with the club having an option for a further year.
Elsewhere, former Blues loanee Troy Parrott, 22, is closing in on a £6.7 million permanent move from Tottenham Hotspur to former loan club AZ Alkmaar.