Middlesbrough should avoid signing Jordan Hugill permanently
According to Hartlepool Mail, Middlesbrough are considering signing on-loan star Jordan Hugill permanently. Boro have a £6million option within the striker’s loan deal should they wish to make the move a permanent one.
Hugill completed a £10million move to parent club West Ham last January but has struggled to break into the Hammers’ starting XI. The 26-year-old sealed a loan deal to Boro in August in a bid to play his way into Manuel Pellegrini’s plans. Although Boro now have the option to make the deal permanent, here is why Tony Pulis’ side should avoid signing him permanently.
Hugill has struggled to make an impact at Riverside Stadium since making the temporary switch in the summer. The striker has only scored three goals in 14 Championship games. Hugill ’s future at his parent club looks doubtful and his goal haul for Boro isn’t impressive either.
Middlesbrough are in the promotion picture, thanks to their tight backline. Tony Pulis’ side has conceded the least number of goals in the division – 14 goals in 21 games. Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United are the only other club that haven’t conceded over 20 goals so far.
More worrying for Boro, they have only put 23 goals past their opponents, which is the least number of goals scored by any team in the top half of the table. With Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa hot on their heels, Boro should be looking to bring further attacking reinforcements to the Riverside Stadium to sustain a promotion fight until May.
Boro currently rely on Britt Assombalonga, Rudy Gestede, Martin Braithwaite and Ashley Fletcher to provide the firepower upfront. However, only Assombalonga has made significant contributions in front of the goal. In fact, Assombalonga is Middlesbrough’s top scorer, having scored 6 goals so far.
Shelling out £6million for a forward who has scored 26 Championship goals in 114 games isn’t ideal. To be fair, Hugill is strong aerially and a threat in indirect set-piece situations. However, the 26-year-old struggles to hold onto the ball, pass and contribute defensively.
Boro should look to strengthen their attacking options this winter window. Having squad options in the final third, players who can finish off the few chances created would massively boost their promotion chances. That said, Jordan Hugill is simply not the answer to Boro ’s attacking woes.
Hence, Middlesbrough should allow Jordan Hugill to run down his loan deal.
