West Ham can sign their own John McGinn as approach made for Josh Mulligan
West Ham United are eyeing a move for Hibernian’s Josh Mulligan.
Much of the Hammers’ transfer business will hinge on outgoings, with several players already linked with exits from the London Stadium.
Among those most likely to leave is Mateus Fernandes, who has been heavily mooted for a move to Man United, as well as several other Premier League clubs.
Replacing him in the event of a departure will be a priority for the Hammers, who will already be looking at reinforcing their midfield regardless.
And with news of West Ham having made an approach for Mulligan, they may have their man.
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Who is Josh Mulligan?
Mulligan is not a household name in English football, though in Scotland, he certainly is.
The 23-year-old had a fine campaign with Hibs after joining last summer, in which he managed one goal and five assists in the Scottish Premiership.
| Scottish Premiership | Mulligan |
| Games | 24 |
| Assists | 5 |
| Successful dribbles | 24 |
| Tackles | 51 |
| Recoveries | 132 |
While typically utilised in a more defensive manner, he has the capability to influence proceedings in the final third, as showcased by the fact that he created 24 chances last season.
Understand West Ham have made an initial enquiry about Hiberbian midfielder Josh Mulligan. No bid yet as West Ham clarify outgoings first.
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) June 3, 2026
Midfielder only recently back from an ankle injury but is attracting interest from England.🥬 pic.twitter.com/dVfaVIAA3S
Comparisons were drawn to Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn as a result of his performances at Easter Road, though Mulligan was keen to distance himself from that label.
What did Mulligan say about McGinn comparisons?
McGinn has been a success for Villa, and without him, very few of their recent triumphs would have been possible.
He, too, thrived at Hibernian between 2015 and 2018, at the same age as Mulligan is today, before moving to Villa Park.
However, while Mulligan has taken inspiration from the comparisons, he has remained focused on improving on the pitch without the added pressure.
Back in 2025, he said: “Obviously, McGinn was a great player; he’s still a great player. “To be compared to someone like him is a really good compliment.
“But I just thought I’d focus on my own game and not try to get caught up in that or start comparing myself to other players.”