Wigan could sell Charlie Hughes in January as West Ham and Ipswich Town transfer news emerges
West Ham have staked an interest in Wigan Athletic’s Charlie Hughes but are set to face tough competition from Ipswich Town, according to Alan Nixon.
The Sun journalist reported via his Patreon [31 December] that the Hammers have been tracking the progress of the 20-year-old defender and could be set to place a bid during the January transfer window.
It is understood that Ipswich are the newest contenders in a long list of potential suitors that are interested in signing Hughes from League One outlet Wigan.
Weighing up the options
With West Ham’s ageing centre-back ensemble, adding a young defensive prospect could be one of the key signings for David Moyes during the January transfer window.
Also, with continuous rumours circling around Thilo Kehrer’s future at the club, now is as good a time as any to bring in fresh blood and develop them under the guidance of Kurt Zouma, Nayef Aguerd and Angelo Ogbonna.
The Hammers are much more likely to offer a higher bid than the Tractor Boys, who will have a limited budget in the Championship. However, with the very real possibility of promotion to the Premier League, a move to Ipswich may be far more appealing to the young player.
The young prospect has started 22 of Wigan’s 24 league games this season. The ambition to start senior games will not change if Wigan are to cash in on his potential, but minutes on the pitch will be harder to come by at the London Stadium than at Portman Road.
Hughes has made 52 appearances for Wigan since becoming an academy graduate in 2021, scoring three goals in that time and clearly impressing teams further up the football pyramid.
In other West Ham news, Paul Brown has tipped the Irons to sign Jonathan Tah in January as Moyes is a “big fan” of the defender.