West Ham United completed one of the most surprising deals of the January transfer window when they signed Jordan Hugill from Preston North End.
West Ham were desperate for new recruits last month with a lack of squad depth becoming more acute thanks to a glut of injuries to key players.
David Moyes wanted to bring in three or four quality signings to help the Hammers ensure Premier League survival.
The East Londoners were linked with more than 40 players but only ended up bringing Joao Mario on a short-term loan from Inter Milan, out-of-contract and soon to be 37-year-old Patrice Evra on a free transfer and relative unknown Jordan Hugill from Championship side Preston.
The signing of striker Hugill on deadline day was greeted with apathy from supporters who had been promised transfer dealings that would elevate them to the ‘next level’ as a carrot to leave their beloved Upton Park from the former Olympic Stadium.
The 25-year-old has 10 goals for Preston this season, the best return of the former barman’s career so far.
A couple of brief cameos for the Hammers so far have shown little other than his raw strength.
But as one of a dying breed, could Hugill gatecrash Gareth Southgate’s England Squad for the Russia World Cup this summer as a Plan B alternative to injury-prone Hammers teammate Andy Carroll?
If he lives up to Jamie Redknapp’s billing it is not as ridiculous as it might sound.
Speaking after his surprise transfer to the Hammers, Sky Sports pundit Redknapp said: “He is a very powerful centre forward and obviously with Andy Carroll injured for a while now, he can lead the line and I think he could be a good signing because (Marko) Arnautovic has been playing as a nine for them and he (Hugill) is one of those players that might be a surprise.
“He’s raw, he’s powerful and he looks like, whenever I’ve watched him, he’s hungry, wants to play and he might just be one of those that surprises a few because he doesn’t stop running and sometimes when you’ve got that, it’s amazing how infectious it can be on everyone else.”
Only time will tell but Hugill will take inspiration from the likes of Jamie Vardy and Michail Antonio in his quest. His first job, though, is to break into the West Ham first team.
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