West Ham are interested in Wigan Athletic’s Charlie Hughes, it has been reported by ExWHUEmployee.
Following what has been a busy period for the club of late in terms of player recruitment and restructuring at the club, with Tim Steidten now installed as Technical Director, West Ham are continuing to work to build not only for the present but the long term as well.
As has been reported by Ex previously, Steidten has deployed his scouting network across Europe in anticipation for January and the summer transfer windows.
Our recruitment committee is also looking at younger talents to develop further, with a focus on the longer term strategy to have replacements for some of the more senior players currently within the squad.
With this, the club have identified Charlie Hughes of League One side Wigan Athletic as a target, with West Ham having scored scouted the player numerous times.
Hughes is a 19 year old centre back who spent his younger years at both Manchester City and Liverpool, and is someone who has impressed since making his permanent move to 2017 and then his senior team bow in 2022.
“My sources tell me we are very keen on the young defender Charlie Hughes of Wigan,” stated Ex on The West Ham Way Patreon.
“He’s a player our team have scouted and could make a formal move for in the coming months, possibly next summer.
“He signed a long term deal at Wigan in June though, so it wouldn’t be a cheap signing should we decide to make a formal offer.
“He is seen as a young player we can develop into becoming a longer term replacement for the likes of Angelo Ogbonna.”
Ex also revealed that the club have not given up the pursuit of Ronnie Edwards of Peterborough, whom our club insider exclusively revealed our interest back in August.
Edwards, much like Hughes, has been scouted heavily by West Ham, and being only 20 is seen as a long term investment.
He’s very highly rated and therefore we face competition for the player, but it’s expected the club will continue our pursuit for the England U20 international.
Ex will be keeping fans up to date on the progress of both situations as they develop further, on The West Ham Way Patreon.