Paul Merson grades West Ham’s January business; admits Hugill concern

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West Ham United made two major signings during the January transfer window.

Paul Merson has told Sky Sports that he would give West Ham’s January business a B- grade, and suggested that they did enough during the window to ensure that they will be staying up this season.

David Moyes’ men went into their first fixture in January just inside the relegation zone in the Premier League but enjoyed a very encouraging month as they did not lose a single top flight game and moved themselves up to 12th by the end of transfer deadline day.

It was also an encouraging month off the field as the club added Joao Mario on loan from Inter Milan and pulled off a deadline day deal for Jordan Hugill, with BBC Sport reporting that the Irons paid Preston North End £10 million for the striker.

And while Merson praised the club’s move for Mario, he admitted that he had a concern about whether Hugill – who had scored eight goals in the Championship this season – will be able to rise to the challenge at the London Stadium.

“Joao Mario is decent and I think they’ll stay up this season. As for Hugill, I think it’s quite a big step from the Championship. People tell me there’s not much between the two divisions but I don’t agree. It’s a big jump to come up and score goals in the Premier League,” he told Sky Sports.

With Hugill boasting no Premier League experience to date, the West Ham fans would certainly be forgiven for being concerned about whether he is the right man to ensure that they do not get dragged back into the bottom three anytime soon, especially as he arrives in a window where the Hammers allowed Diafra Sakho and Andre Ayew to leave.

But with West Ham still unbeaten in the league since Christmas, Mario and Hugill have joined a side that have some confidence and momentum, and that may well give the pair a better chance of proving to be successful signings.