Brentford boss Dean Smith drops big hint over what is holding up West Ham’s move for Scott Hogan

Follow us on Google Discover

Brentford manager Dean Smith has dropped a big hint over what is causing the hold-up in Scott Hogan’s move to West Ham United.

The Hammers are desperately seeking more firepower in the January window have targeted the likes of Jermain Defoe and Bees star Hogan.

Slaven Bilic has not hidden his admiration for the former Rochdale striker – as reported by Sky Sports recently – but has seen two bids rejected.

Reports claimed a deal was all but done last week with small details to be ironed out over add-ons.

Brentford’s Scott Hogan celebrates

But going into another weekend of matches Hogan remains with the West London club while West Ham face the prospect of going into their game at Middlesbrough with no senior strikers after Andy Carroll was rated doubtful through injury.

Rumours suggest Bilic’s interest has cooled but speaking ahead of Brentford’s trip to Wigan, manager Dean Smith dropped a big hint on what is causing the hold-up, as reported by Get West London.

“It’s unchanged from last week,” Smith told Get West London.

“I’m not sure (whether it is happening or not).

Brentford manager Dean Smith

“An agreement normally takes three parties – the buying club, the selling club and the player but there’s sometimes a fourth one in the agent. As far as I’m aware, nothing has happened yet.”

At around £13m, some West Ham fans were initially concerned the club was paying over the odds for a Championship striker and question why the owners did not deliver the marquee signing promised in the summer.

But a series of transfer since such as Jeffry Schlupp’s £13m move from Leicester to Crystal Palace and Jake Livermore’s proposed £10m move from Hull to West Brom make Hogan look good value.

And supporters must remember two of the club’s biggest success stories of recent seasons are Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio, signed from Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest respectively.

While Cresswell was a bargain at £3million, the club shelled out £7.5million for Antonio in what was also seen as a big gamble and one that has certainly paid off.