'Middlesbrough FC given opportunity to sign on-loan striker for £6million'

Boro look set to turn the loan deal for Jordan Hugill into a permanent one in January, if reports are to be believed.

According to reports coming from a West Ham fan site, the The Irons have offered Middlesbrough the opportunity to turn the loan deal for striker Jordan Hugill into a permanent one for a sum of around £6million.

Although West Ham had signed the striker only in January 2018 for £10 million, he was deemed surplus to requirements only after six months at the London Stadium.

During his six month stay at West Ham, Hugill made only three appearances for in the Premier League, hence the reason why he was eager to join Boro on loan in the summer.

Apart from the chance of getting more game time, it was the opportunity to return to his boyhood club that lured Hugill to Boro.

The switch to Boro started slowly,failing to to score a goal in his first nine Championship appearances for his new club.

However, starting from his brace against Wigan Athletic just before the International break, Hugill has now scored three goals in his last three games.

Therefore, while his goal tally isn’t that impressive on the whole, the fact that all three goals have come in the last three games make Hugill one of the in-form strikers in the Championship. Also, with Boro in the final eight of the Carabao Cup, they could do well with a striker in form.

In addition to the recent form of Hugill, it is the profligacy other Boro strikers have shown in front of goal which might force Boro to accept West Ham’s offer, as Tony Pulis mentioned after Boro’s 2-1 win over Brentford on Saturday.

Hugill will be keen to extend his stay in the Championship because of the competition for places at his parent club West Ham, with Hernandez, Lucas Perez, Michael Antonio, Andy Carroll, and Marko Arnautovic all competing for a spot in the Hammer's starting XI.

Boro aren’t short of options when it comes to their striking department either, with the likes of Britt Assombalonga, Rudy Gestede, Martin Braithwaite and Ashley Fletcher all at the club.

Therefore, if the club are to sign Hugill on a permanent deal, that might result in the departure of at least one of the above mentioned strikers from the club.