West Ham were right to pick Jordan Hugill over Graziano Pelle

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West Ham United were linked with Graziano Pelle before the transfer deadline.

West Ham United ended the January transfer window with a last-gasp signing, bringing in striker Jordan Hugill from Preston North End in a deal worth a reported £10million (BBC Sport).

The Hammers, who also brought in Joao Mario on loan from Inter Milan in January before landing Patrice Evra on a free transfer last week, wanted to bring in a striker last month following Diafra Sakho’s move to Rennes – and did so with Hugill.

Hugill, 25, arrives having hit 10 goals in 29 games for Preston this season, after notching 13 goals in all competitions last term, but fans were left a little underwhelmed that the former non-league striker was the best West Ham could come up with.

However, given that the Hammers could have brought in Graziano Pelle, with Sky Sports reporting that talks took place over a deal for the Shandong Luneng hitman, David Moyes and co may have actually made the right decision.

Pelle may be a bigger name, and comes with Premier League experience after scoring 23 goals in 68 games for Southampton, but he has been a disappointment in China, and comes with a staggering wage packet of £260,000-a-week, according to the Daily Mail.

Given that Pelle will be 33 before the start of next season, West Ham would have got little out of an ageing, expensive signing, and recent flops Jose Fonte and Robert Snodgrass should show that such a strategy does not work.

Instead, West Ham made a potentially smart decision to go back to the strategy which has seen Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio thrive at the London Stadium; signing a proven Championship player with potential to get even better with the Hammers, rather than merely see out the final stages of his career.

Hugill doesn’t have the big name or international caps for Pelle has, but he is an honest, hard-working player who has adapted to every level of football he has ascended to, and Hammers fans should actually be pleased with the more long-term approach of Hugill rather than the short-term affect of Pelle.