Reports linking West Ham duo Jordan Hugill and Pedro Obiang with moves away from the club are wide of the mark, according to Claret & Hugh.
Hugill, who spent last season on loan at Middlesbrough, has been credited with interest from Preston North End [ExWHUemployee via The West Ham Way podcast].
Obiang, meanwhile, has been linked with a move to Serie A side Roma [GialloRossi.net], but a senior Hammers source told Claret & Hugh that no offers have been made for the pair at this stage.
“The stories makes a certain amount of sense but in reality there has been no interest expressed at this stage. And the same is true of the remainder of the squad,” the source said.
“Both Jordan and Pedro are Hammers as is Sam Byram. With players largely on holiday this is the quietest part of the summer period but that will change when the squads return to training.”
OPINION
If the source is correct, then it could just be a matter of time before bids for the pair come in. The fact is, both are surplus to requirements at West Ham. Defensive midfielder Obiang is unlikely to get the nod by Manuel Pellegrini next season, given that the club have Mark Noble and Declan Rice in that position. Noble is of course the club captain and will not be budged out of the way, while Rice has just exploded onto the international stage and will become an even more important part of the side next term than he was last season. As for Hugill, the centre-forward was sent out on loan last term and if West Ham can snap up Maxi Gomez – with whom they have been linked [Evening Standard] – then there will be no place for him in Pellegrini’s team. Overall, while it looks like there will be no movement for these players in the coming days, that could all change once pre-season begins.
