According to club insider EXWHUEmployee, Jordan Hugill could leave West Ham United on loan this summer in search of first-team football.

What's the story?

It would be fair to say that eyebrows were raised when West Ham brought Hugill to the London Stadium in the latter stages of the January transfer window.

The West Ham fans were expecting high-profile additions during the winter window, and the signing of Hugill did not exactly capture the imagination.

The 26-year-old moved to the London Stadium off the back of scoring eight times in 27 Championship appearances for Preston North End in the first half of the 2017-18 campaign.

However, the centre-forward hardly kicked a ball in the second half of the season, and according to club insider EXWHUEmployee, could well leave the Hammers on loan this summer.

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Sheffield Wednesday are believed to be interested in Hugill, although it is understood that a number of other Championship clubs are closely monitoring developments.

Should Hugill seek a loan move?

To be blunt, yes. Hugill only played 22 minutes of Premier League football in the second half of the 2017-18 campaign as West Ham battled to stay in the top flight.

The forward had a decent scoring record at Preston, but has become a bit of a joke figure at West Ham, with even his club's own supporters poking fun at him on social media.

Hugill, who is valued at £7.2m by transfermarkt.co.uk, will be desperate to earn a spot in West Ham's starting XI, but it is really difficult to believe that new Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini will select the forward on a regular basis.

Indeed, it is understood that Pellegrini is desperate to keep Javier Hernandez, whilst Marko Arnautovic has developed into a centre-forward at the London Stadium.

Hugill will not be short of interest from the Championship, and the Middlesbrough-born striker should seek a loan move this summer for the sake of his career.