Brentford Star's Move to West Ham Nearing Completion as Clubs Thrash Out Reported £13.5m Deal
Scott Hogan's rumoured transfer to West Ham United appears to have taken a step closer after an alleged breakthrough in negotiations occurred.
The Brentford striker's move to the London stadium appears to have taken a giant step forward after the clubs agreed an initial £9m fee, with money for potential add-ons the only remaining hiccup in the move being finalised.
The Daily Mail claims that Brentford are holding out for a total transfer fee of £15m for Hogan, but West Ham believe they can get the Championship outfit to accept a bid of around £13.5m for their star man.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND-JANUARY 2: Scott Hogan of Brentford misses a penalty during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Brentford at St Andrews Stadium on January 2, 2017 in Birmingham, England (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images).
Nathan Stirk/GettyImages
Hogan was left out of the Bees' 18-man matchday squad for last Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United - a move that prompted widespread speculation that the 24-year-old had moved closer to the exit door.
Those rumours are increasingly turning into fact with the latest development in the saga ensuring that a conclusion may be achieved in the coming days.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is eager to add firepower to his attack with goals hard to come by for his side so far in 2016/17. Forward reinforcements became a greater matter of urgency when Dimitri Payet announced his decision to go on strike at the club following the rejection of a reported £20m offer from former club Marseille.
West Ham United's Croatian manager Slaven Bilic arrives for the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Crystal Palace at The London Stadium, in east London on January 14, 2017. / AFP / Ian KINGTON / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)
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Bilic has seen bids for Sunderland's Jermain Defoe and Hull City's Robert Snodgrass rejected in January, but Bilic could land one target in Hogan if a final agreement can be reached between the two parties.
Hogan's rapid rise to stardom has been somewhat of a fairytale story after he suffered a horrific cruciate knee ligament injury just one month after he completed a £800,000 switch from Rochdale - who will receive 30% of any sell-on fee from Hogan's transfer to the Irons - in July 2014.
An 18-month spell on the sidelines followed, but his remarkable return from that long-term absence was all the more rewarding when he bagged seven goals in his first seven matches for Brentford towards the end of last term.
Hogan has picked up where he left off this season, plundering 14 goals in 26 appearances, and now appears set to achieve a rags-to-riches story.
Hogan has progressed through the footballing pyramid after starting life at non-league Halifax Town following his release by Rochdale just five years ago, and could achieve a lifelong dream of becoming a Premier League footballer if his move goes through.
In total, Hogan has scored 21 goals in just 35 matches for Brentford.
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