da betano casino： West Ham United remain in pursuit of sought after Brentford striker Scott Hogan with only seven days left of the January transfer window.
da fazobetai： Hogan has 14 goals this season already, continuing his impressive form at the end of the previous campaign as he returned from injury to score seven in seven games before the season’s close.
According to the BBC Sport, Brentford manager Dean Smith says the interest in Hogan from West Ham has unsettled the striker, who may be now keen to secure a move to the Premier League before the end of the week. He has also been withdrawn from the first-team as speculation around his future rumbles on.
If the striker is to leave, however, the Bees won’t let him go on the cheap and will be holding out for an estimated £15m for his services.
It could be a gamble for the Hammers, who have had little luck in the signing of their strikers in recent years, but we at FFC think it is one that could jut pay off.
Here are FIVE things you need to know about Scott Hogan …
A Goal Every Other
The 24-year-old striker has averaged a goal every other game in a career in which he has played at almost all levels of English football – including the Northern Premier League, the Conference Premier, League Two and, of course, the Championship with Brentford.
Hogan’s scoring record has remained consistent throughout and has in fact improved since his move to the Bees in 2014. West Ham will be hoping that he will only continue to develop if he is indeed to make the move to the London Stadium.
Uncapped
If West Ham are indeed to pay the proposed asking price of £15m for Hogan, he would become the second most expensive player in the English Premier League without a senior international cap – falling behind only Stoke’s £18.5mn Frenchman Giannelli Imbula.
In fact, the striker has never featured at youth level for his country either, and while he was once called up to the Republic of Ireland’s U-21 squad he never featured in a match.
Money, Money, Money
According to The Sun, if Hogan does make the switch to West Ham, not only would he be earning himself a move to the Premier League, but also a hefty sum of money alongside it.
When leaving former club Rochdale for Brentford in 2014, the striker had a sneaky clause put in the contract should he leave the Bees that entitles him to 5% of any transfer fee. That means at £15m, Hogan would be a sweet £750,000 up, while his former club Rochdale would bag £3m themselves as they are set in inherit 20% of any fee, too.
Brothers in Arms
Hogan’s career took a while to get going. After being released by Rochdale – a club he would later return to – back in 2010 after only one appearance, he would then join Woodley Sports, and subsequently Halifax Town, where he linked up with his brother, Liam Hogan, who was already at the club.
Liam was a first-team regular for the club, making 135 appearances in three seasons for them, however, Scott on the other hand struggled and left the Shay after making only 22 appearances and scoring four goals. His brother now plays at National League side Gateshead, so it is fair to say Scott’s fortunes have taken a turn for the better since.
Not the Only Ones
While all the talk of a move for Hogan has been around West Ham United, it shouldn’t be forgotten that a number of other clubs are also chasing his signature, so the Hammers will need to beat off the competition if they really want to get their man.
Newcastle are reportedly interested in bringing the forward to St James Park to partner top scorer Dwight Gayle, while Watford are also keeping an eye on him as they look for a solution to their lack of goals this season.