Chelsea v Hull City: Livermore sale frees up cash for Silva to utilise

The 27-year-old yesterday completed his move to The Hawthorns in a £10m deal that includes add-ons.

Silva did not want to lose Livermore but has taken a calculated gamble to raise sufficient cash to re-model a squad that has been horribly imbalanced since the summer.

Omar Elabdellaoui’s switch to the KCOM Stadium from Olympiacos, initially on a loan deal that can be made permanent next summer, came a few hours after Tony Pulis had officially unveiled Livermore in the Midlands. Silva hopes the Norwegian’s arrival will fix what has been a problem position for Hull since Moses Odubajo suffered a serious injury last summer.

Porto playmaker Evandro and Everton striker Oumar Niasse moved to the East Riding last week as Silva starts to put his own stamp on a group he inherited from Mike Phelan in the first week of January.

“If you asked me if I wanted to lose Jake, my answer is ‘no’,” Silva said when asked about Livermore’s exit. “Of course, he was a very important player for us and it is never good when you lose an important player.

“But it was a very good proposal for him and the club have a good proposal also. The deal is closed. This is football.”

Asked if the proceeds from Livermore’s sale will be ploughed into strengthening the squad, Silva said: “Yes, it is important because we have a budget and you know it is not a big budget to find the best solutions.”

Even allowing for Livermore’s departure, Robert Snodgrass has been Hull’s prize asset most coveted by rival clubs this January with Burnley and West Ham United both having been rebuffed after making offers.

The Scot, an injury doubt for tomorrow’s trip to Chelsea, has been an integral figure for the Tigers and Silva wants to keep hold of the club’s top scorer.

“He didn’t train with us for the last couple of days,” said the Portuguese when asked for an update on Snodgrass. “But about transfers, nothing.”