Just as one transfer saga begins in Scott Sinclair, another one looks set to end.
West Ham United striker Jordan Hugill has been linked with a return to North End for months now. In fact, we can present something of a timeline here.
- West Ham insider ‘ExWHUEmployee’ claimed that Preston were keen to sign Hugill, rivalling Blackburn and Charlton.
- In June, The Sun reported that Hugill was ‘set’ to return to North End, which unsurprisingly didn’t come off.
- Football Insider suggested a couple of weeks ago that Preston were in advanced talks to buy Hugill. Again, that didn’t materialise.
Hugill’s agent sure has been busy, hasn’t he?
It always seemed like any return for Hugill would have to be late in the window, when West Ham were desperate. They have no plans to use Hugill, and he’ll be moving on before the deadline.
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His next destination won’t be Preston, though. Sky Sports (11:14) report that Hugill is joining Queens Park Rangers, with a medical imminent.
The striker will be returning for another season of Championship football, having spent last season at Middlesbrough. We can now cross the 27-year-old off the North End wish list, at least for another year.
Alex Neil would have surely loved Hugill back, but QPR appear to have come up with a satisfactory loan offer. Would North End have done similar? Possibly not, but a new striker should be a priority before the transfer deadline in less than two weeks.