According to The Daily Mail's Live Transfer Blog (see 14.09), Crystal Palace are facing late competition from West Ham in the race to sign Preston North End striker Jordan Hugill.

What's the word?

BBC Sport reported yesterday that Crystal Palace had entered talks with the Championship side regarding the 25-year-old's services, although no fee had been agreed, and London Evening Standard believe the Eagles are still interested in a deal. However, it appears West Ham are now ready to contest their London rivals - and, coincidentally, their Premier League opponents last night - for Hugill's signature.

That's the claim made by The Daily Mail, which has been echoed by Irons insider ExWHUemployee on Twitter. However, it's unknown how much the Hammers are prepared to pay for Hugill. Transfermarkt value him at just £2.7million, but LES claim Preston have placed a £10million valuation on the striker because they'll owe Port Vale a 20% sell-on fee.

Why are Palace and West Ham so keen for a striker?

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For both clubs, injuries are at the root of their late striker search. Bakary Sako limped off last night at the London Stadium, meaning the Eagles' goalscoring hopes are firmly placed on Christian Benteke like they have been for much of the season - he's scored just two Premier League goals so far this term.

Likewise, while West Ham certainly have numbers in attack on paper, Andy Carroll and Marko Arnautovic are both sidelined at the moment, while Michail Antonio is only just returning from an injury layoff and Andre Ayew could return to Swansea City before the end of the day. That leaves Javier Hernandez as Moyes' only fully fit strike option at this moment in time. Like Benteke, he's endured a difficult season.

Can Hugill make the step up to the Premier League?

That's the ultimate question and it must be said the Englishman isn't the most elegant of players or the most consistent of goalscorers. Even this season, where his overall form has attracted interest from the Premier League, the 6 foot striker has scored just eight goals in 27 Championship appearances.

That said, Hugill's proved himself capable of leading the line against physical sides and that's very much the direction the lower end of the Premier League has moved in this season. Indeed, he's averaged 5.7 successful aerial duels per match this term - the fifth-best return of any striker in the second tier - and created 1.2 chances per match, showing an ability to bring others into the game.

Both clubs will likely view him more as a relatively cheap addition who can bolster their bench rather than the starting XIs.

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