West Ham fans will be wary of Jordan Hugill repeat with Jarrod Bowen signature

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West Ham United’s signing of Jarrod Bowen looks a classic piece of David Moyes business. The Hammers boss has a fine record when it comes to bringing in players from the Football League, especially during his most celebrated management period at Everton. 

The likes of Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, and Tim Cahill all became Premier League stars during their time at Goodison Park after respective moves from Sheffield United, Wolves and Millwall. 

Bowen then, who arrived in a reported (The Guardian) £22 million deal on deadline day, will hopefully follow that same Moyes narrative. 

But it is a narrative West Ham fans are wary of, as a similar signing in January 2018 failed to have a similar impact. 

West Ham snapped up Jordan Hugill from Preston North End in January 2018. The fee involved, as reported by the BBC, was in the region of £10 million. 

It came after the striker had scored 10 goals in the Championship that season and looked like the sort of player Moyes could potentially turn to gold. 

However, that did not prove the case. Instead, Hugill played just three times for West Ham before being sent out on loan to Middlesbrough in the summer of 2018 and QPR at the start of the current season. His most memorable moment is still perhaps his welcome to West Ham video, which gained viral traction.

With all respect to Hugill, Bowen has perhaps shown more talent at the Championship level. His 17 goals and six assists this season surpass the 10 goals and two assists Hugill had managed prior to joining the Hammers.

West Ham fans will just hope Bowen can keep West Ham out of the Championship, whilst also proving capable of the step up from the second tier.