Report: West Ham rivalling Slaven Bilic and Crystal Palace for Chelsea 21-year-old

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TeamTalk have claimed that West Ham United are rivalling Slaven Bilic’s West Bromwich Albion and other English clubs to sign Chelsea striker Ike Ugbo on loan for the 2020-21 campaign.

Ugbo, 21, has spent the last season on loan at second-tier Dutch side Roda JC. He helped his loan side stay afloat in the second tier, scoring 13 goals in 29 appearances – with Roda finished in 17th place out of 20 sides.

A regular in Chelsea’s Under-23 side, Ugbo has scored 15 goals in 34 appearances for Chelsea’s reserves and scored goals during loan spells at MK Dons, Barnsley and Scunthorpe United.

With Ugbo entering the final year of his Chelsea contract, it appears some Championship and Premier League names are keen. West Ham are joined by West Brom, Watford, Crystal Palace, Burnley, Derby and Nottingham Forest.

TBR’s view – Is Ugbo worth going after?

Certainly, Ugbo is another example of Chelsea’s excellent youth academy that has proven itself this season – bringing through the likes of Fikayo Tomori, Reece James, Mason Mount, Billy Gilmour, Tammy Abraham and more.

Ugbo is another example of that. Although he is hardly on the level of the aforementioned players, he is certainly a top striker with plenty of promise. Now, he has goals to his name at senior level.

A move to a Premier League or Championship side is the next obvious move in order to further his development. West Ham could be ideal, given they have little other options than Sebastian Haller and Michail Antonio.