West Brom should avoid Hull City transfer hijack: View | OneFootball

The Baggies are facing transfer interest in a key midfielder from a Championship rival

As with all clubs, West Bromwich Albion's preparations for the 2024/25 campaign are now well underway.

The vast majority of the first-team squad available to Carlos Corberan are now back in pre-season, with the Baggies looking to mount another push for promotion from the Championship this season.

One player, however, who may not be back working with the squad at The Hawthorns just yet though, is Okay Yokuslu.

The midfielder has, of course, been away with Turkey at Euro 2024, helping his side to the quarter-finals of the competition, where they were eliminated by the Netherlands last weekend.

That may mean he has some recovery time before linking up with his West Brom teammates, although he will have some big decisions to think about before he returns to action.

Okay Yokuslu attracting considerable transfer interest

While he has been away at the Euros in recent weeks, that has not stopped speculation emerging around the future of the midfielder.

Yokuslu had been heavily linked with a move back to Turkey with Besiktas, although the latest updates have claimed that an agreement between the two clubs could not be reached.

However, it seems that may now open the door for other clubs to make a move for the signing of the 30-year-old.

It has now also been reported that Hull City are keen on a potential deal to sign Yokuslu as well.

However, there is a strong argument that a move to the MKM Stadium for the Turkey international is one that West Brom simply cannot afford to sanction under any circumstances.

West Brom should not help Hull City to strengthen

Of course, losing Yokuslu in any circumstances would be something of a blow for the Baggies this summer.

The midfielder was an important figure for Corberan's side last season, and it was notable that they often found themselves conceding, shortly after Yokuslu was taken off in games.

As a result, it could potentially leave West Brom more exposed in the coming campaign, if they were to lose him in the summer transfer window.

However, if that was to facilitate a return to Turkey for Yokuslu, there would at least be no threat of a subsequent consequence from that exit in the 2024/25 season, since they would no be coming up against on the pitch.

That though, would of course be rather different, if the midfielder's next destination was to be Hull City.

The Tigers finished last season seventh in the Championship table, just three points adrift of the play-off places, and only five points behind West Brom, who finished fifth in the regular season standings.

As a result, Hull will no doubt be hoping to push for promotion again in the coming campaign, especially with the change of manager that has seen Tim Walter replace Liam Rosenior.

With that in mind, given the Baggies themselves are obviously going to be hoping to claim a play-off place again, it would be a major gamble for them to allow Yokuslu to join the Tigers.

Not only would sanctioning such a move weaken West Brom, it would also strengthen a potential rival.

Those at The Hawthorns know how important the midfielder can be at this level, so it would make little sense for them to hand such influence over to a side who will be looking to overhaul them in the table.

With so little between the two last season, allowing Hull to benefit from Yokuslu as well, may be one of those fine margins that could help them to wipe out their deficit to West Brom this season.

He is also a player, who given how well he knows the side, and with his ability on the pitch, could be a big help any chance the Tigers have of claiming all three points in games between the two sides.