WEST HAM MANAGER Slaven Bilic has spoken of his admiration of Scott Hogan as the Premier League side step-up their interest in the Irish-qualified striker.
The 24-year-old is the subject of interest from a number of top-flight clubs after scoring 14 goals in 26 league outings for Brentford this season.
West Ham have already had a €11 million bid rejected by the Championship club while Watford’s approach has also been rebuffed.
Brentford are believed to want upwards of €13 million for Hogan, although with 18 months left on his contract at Griffin Park they may be keen to cash in during this transfer window.
With West Ham lacking penetration in the final third, Bilic has identified the Irish-qualified forward and Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe as key targets.
“Scott is a good player. I watched him a few times,” the West Ham manager said.
“He is, again, scoring goals. He is very sharp, quick. A good finisher – doing it in the Championship, young and a good prospect.”
Newcastle are also thought to be monitoring Hogan’s progress but the player is only interested in a move to the Premier League.
– The headline of this article was amended at 2.35pm
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not overly optimistic that he will declare for us. A big money move to the prem followed by a 10 min appearance for england is more likely.
Leave him off
Best of luck to him so. Wish he’d come out and say it though. No one has any problem with Mark Noble for example saying he only wants to play for England.
He hasn’t even declared for Ireland , forget about him until he does !!!!
A move to West Ham then probably scores 10 or 15 goals and a call up from Gareth Southgate, and its curtains to him playing for Ireland! Hope not!