‘It’s a no brainer’ – West Ham player and Preston North End: The verdict

One player who looks set for a return to Championship football next season is West Ham United striker Jordan Hugill, just months after joining the Hammers. 

Hugill’s former club, Preston North End, could well be a team who could go back in for the 26-year-old after he scored nine league goals at Deepdale last season before being sold to the Hammers in January.

Preston will be on the hunt for a goalscorer to help Sean Maguire who notched 10 in 24 matches last season, and Hugill could be just the man.

After only being given 22 minutes of playing time in the entire second half of last season at West Ham, there is a good chance that Hugill himself will be keen on a move away from the London Stadium.

But should Preston prioritise their former man and push hard for his signature?

We discuss.

Jay Williams

Given how desperate he was to leave, perhaps Hugill should join another Championship side.

The Lilywhites have got a decent strike force without him anyway with Sean Maguire, Louis Moult, Callum Robinson and Tom Barkhuizen in the attacking regions.

Adam Willmott

Yes.

Frozen out at West Ham, a move back home would suit both club and player.

Chris Gallagher 

Definitely – what a signing he’d be.

PNE are lacking a top striker and bringing Hugill back would solve that. He knows the team, scored goals and is the ideal target man. Money might be an issue but they should be going all-out to land him.

Alfie Burns 

It’s something they should be considering.

Hugill would improve most Championship sides, with the striker also having a point to prove to West Ham, if he is loaned out.

Alex Neil’s side would really benefit from his quality.

Gary Hutchinson 

I think they’d be pushing against a lot of other sides and maybe it could cost them more.

There’s going to be plenty of good quality strikers from the top flight going out on loan, young players and academy prospects so I don’t think Hugill is the be-all and end-all of their transfer ambitions.

George Dagless

It’s a no-brainer.

Hugill has been unlucky, it looks as though David Moyes didn’t really want him at West Ham.

He’s a good forward at Championship level, though, and you wonder if Preston had kept hold of him whether they’d go into the top six last season…