Hull City make contract decision over popular striker Tom Eaves

Tom Eaves will leave Hull City after the club opted against activating the year option on his contract. Eaves will become the second player to depart this summer, as boss Shota Arveladze looks to reshape his squad ahead of a busy transfer window at the MKM Stadium.

Eaves, who has impressed since Arveladze arrived in mid-January scoring three times, came off the bench for what proved to be his final outing in the black and amber in the second half of the final day draw with Nottingham Forest at the MKM Stadium. The 30-year-old made 33 appearances this season, scoring five times, with 31 of those outings coming in the Championship, starting 12 times.

The striker, who moved to the MKM Stadium on a free transfer from Gillingham in July 2019, has made 108 appearances for the Tigers, scoring 18 goals and clocking up nine assists, but will now be free to find another club. He joins Tom Huddlestone in becoming the second player of the eight out of contract members of City's squad to be released.

A popular figure on the terraces at City, Eaves will be fondly remembered by supporters and so too the new owner, after playing a pivotal role in George Honeyman's opening goal early on against Blackburn Rovers, before adding the second on the night the Tigers welcomed Ilicali as its new custodian.

Tom Huddlestone has gone after Arveladze confirmed on the final day that his contract would not be renewed, and it's understood talks are still ongoing with the rest. Richie Smallwood, Callum Elder, George Honeyman, Mallik Wilks and Matt Ingram are the remaining six, though the club does have the option to extend them by a further 12 months.

City are working towards having the full retained list available before Thursday afternoon when owner