Stoke City, Southampton, Swansea City and Hull City all target the prolific Brentford striker in the next transfer window.
Scott Hogan celebrates scoring for Brentford
The goal scoring feats of Tammy Abraham and Dwight Gayle have been well-documented so far this season, but Championship ace Scott Hogan seems to have gone somewhat under the radar. The Brentford striker is the joint top scorer in England’s second tier, along with Abraham and Gayle, the trio all having scored 7 goals so far this term.
Hogan is far from a flash in the pan though, the 24-year-old has scored 14 goals in 17 games in the Championship since recovering from a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury. Yet another goal scorer who has emerged from England’s non-league system, Hogan has scored goals wherever he has been throughout his career, and taken every step up with consummate ease.
His career path has been similar to that of Andre Gray in many respects, the 25-year-old who recently landed himself in hot water due to some four-year old tweets also spent a number of seasons scoring prolifically in non-league football before making the step up to the Championship with Brentford, and now ultimately the Premier League with Burnley.
Hogan’s career has parallel’s with that of Andre Gray
Parallel’s could also be drawn between Hogan and Jamie Vardy. Like last season’s Golden Boot runner-up, Hogan also lists Halifax Town and Stocksbridge Park Steels among his former employers, although he’s still some way to go before he can claim to have emulated Leicester’s title winning striker.
His prowess in front of goal hasn’t gone entirely unnoticed though; Leicester themselves were reported to be scouting the player in the summer as a potential replacement for Vardy, when it looked as though the England international might swap the Foxes for Arsenal.
If one was prone to footballing cliches, they might describe Hogan as a player who ‘gets in the right place at the right time’, or ‘has a knack of sniffing out chances.’ Ultimately, he is a player with explosive pace who likes to play on the shoulder of the defence. This, twinned with a ruthlessness in front of goal – Hogan has 77% shooting accuracy so far this season – makes him one of the most dangerous forwards in the Football League.
Hogan played alongside Jamie Vardy at Halifax
One could make a case for Andre Gray only having had such success with Brentford, earning a move to Burnley and eventually becoming a Premier League player because of Hogan’s injuries. When Brentford signed both players in 2014, there were no doubts over who was first choice, and it wasn’t the former Luton striker.
Gray performed exceptionally well in Hogan’s absence and won the Championship Golden Boot last season, but Hogan is starting to show the kind of form which makes it understandable why he was considered the better prospect between the two.
Having played football part-time, Hogan has experience working in a number of different industries, but says the thought of going back to a 9-5 job is what motivates him more than anything else. Whatever it is, it appears to be working. He has now recovered from two potentially career ending injuries, but neither seem to have thwarted his pace, ability or enthusiasm.
Hogan celebrates scoring for Rochdale
The concern for Brentford fans will be whether they can keep ahold of their most prized asset. Whilst the Bees continue to punch above their weight in the Championship, they have become something of a selling club. Andre Gray, Moses Odubajo, Stuart Dallas and James Tarkowski are all players who left the club for decent sized transfer fees having impressed at Griffin Park.
With one or two Premier League clubs reported to have been sniffing around Hogan in the summer, after just 8 Championship appearances, that interest is likely to have increased ten fold following his 7 goals in 10 games so far this term. Currently in the play-off places though, if Brentford have genuine Premier League aspirations, they cannot afford to let go of one of their star players again.
Southampton, Stoke City, Swansea City and Hull City are just four clubs who could be considered a little light in attacking departments and may be willing to pay a premium for Hogan in January, especially with the latter three likely to be embroiled in a relegation scrap.
Could the likes of Stoke, Swansea, Hull and Southampton snap up Hogan this January, or will he remain at Brentford?
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