City are in better place, even if KLP is sold this summer
barry.cooper@reachplc.com @bazdjcooper
DEPARTING first-team coach Tony Pennock says Hull City’s squad will be in a better place should Keane Lewis-potter leave this summer, compared to when Jarrod Bowen and Kamil Grosicki were sold in January 2020.
However, he hopes the 21-year-old sensation will remain at the MKM Stadium.
Losing Bowen and Grosicki late in the January window a couple of years ago proved pivotal as the Tigers suffered a dramatic relegation before bouncing back at the first attempt last summer by winning promotion.
City have survived this season in part down to Lewis-potter’s goals, the latest talent to emerge from the club’s academy.
Interest is growing in Lewis-potter amid what’s expected to be a summer of interest in the 21-year-old, having already seen bids from Brentford rebuffed by the Tigers.
West Ham boss David Moyes has been to watch the Hull-born ace personally, while Spurs have shown interest and so too Southampton.
Pennock, who has worked with Lewis-potter in recent years, believes the class of 2022 are in a better place to deal with the departure of Lewis-potter, should he leave this summer
“It’s tough, you just look at when we sold Jarrod and Kamil in January it had such a detrimental effect on the boys, more than us as staff. We knew it was going to happen at some stage,” Pennock told the Mail.
“We felt lucky that we kept them for the first six months of the season. I think they looked around and thought who is going to score all the goals?
“Will Keano going have the same effect on this group? I don’t think it will. Keane will be a massive loss but this group is a stronger group. Because of the relegation and because of what they’ve experienced over the past two years, I think they’ve got a good understanding of what’s needed.
“I think they’ll be better prepared for it.”
New owner Acun Ilicali is preparing to offer Lewis-potter a contract in a bid to keep his talisman at the MKM beyond the summer, and is determined to keep him, having acknowledged what a difficult task replacing him this summer would be, and Pennock says he would urge the England Under-21 international to stay for at least the next 12 months.
“At the end of the day, it’s down to the owner to decide what is the right fee he decides to sell him for and I think it will come down to that really,” he said.
“They’ve turned down bids earlier in the year but unless the money’s on the table, Keano won’t go I wouldn’t think.
“I think Keano should have another year in the Championship, personally. But I’m not Keano sat there with the possibility of going into the Premier League tomorrow - or whenever. If I look at it from
Keano’s side, yes, I want to go and play in the Premier League, the biggest league in the world. If
Keane asked me for my advice I’d say stay in the Championship for another year.
“He’s got his own family and advisors who will help him make that decision. I’m pretty sure Keano will make the right decision for himself. I don’t think for one moment it’s about money, it’s about playing in the Premier League. If the club make him an offer he can’t turn down, he might still be playing for the club next year.”