The forward joined the Black Cats from local rivals Newcastle United and established some outstanding form for the club at youth level.
The then-16-year-old would eventually conclude a high-profile move to Manchester United in the summer of 2020 for a fee rumoured to be approximately £250,000.
However, it appears that some Sunderland fans have not forgotten about Hugill just yet.
Earlier this summer, it was claimed that the Championship club were willing to bring the attacker back to the Stadium of Light on loan.
However, it appears that the most recent speculations about Hugill’s future at Old Trafford indicate that both the player and his current club are prioritizing a different type of agreement right now.
What is the current status of Hugill at Manchester United?
The striker’s current deal at Old Trafford is set to expire next summer, which means he might leave the club at the end of this season.
While Hugill has yet to make his competitive first-team debut for the Premier League side, he has had a productive start to the season with the Under 21s and is reported to have attracted the eye of manager Erik Ten Hag in training.
As a result, it appears that United are now keen to ensure the striker’s long-term future, with The Manchester Evening News stating that he is likely to sign a new three-year contract with the Red Devils, with the option of an additional year.
Once confirmed, Hugill’s future at Old Trafford will be assured until the end of the 2026/27 season.
In doing so, United would throw a blow to Sunderland or any other team considering a permanent move for the striker.
However, there is an argument to be made that the Black Cats should not lose up on the possibility of a reunion with Hugill just yet.
Should Sunderland still pursue Hugill?
While this news may be upsetting for Sunderland, it should come as no surprise to anyone that United wants to keep a player whose potential they have yet to fully exploit at first-team level.
However, in the immediate term, this could provide an opportunity for Sunderland to capitalize on Hugill’s future.
The 19-year-old’s sole first-team experience to date has come from a loan move to National League club Altrincham earlier this year, where he scored once in seven league appearances.
It would be a large step up from there to go directly into Ten Hag’s first-team at United, so a loan spell somewhere could help him bridge the gap.
Given his familiarity with Sunderland and the fact that Black Cats head coach Tony Mowbray has a proven track record of developing young players on loan from the Premier League, the Stadium of Light might be the ideal temporary destination for Hugill.
Not only that, but the new contract would allow United to sanction the move without fear of the Black Cats or any other club attempting to get a longer-term deal for him while he is away.
Indeed, given that the Black Cats were previously reported to be interested in a loan deal expressly for the striker, that could fit in better with their plans as well.
With that in mind, while Hugill’s long-term future appears to be at Manchester United following this recent update, you don’t think a quick reunion with Sunderland can be completely ruled out just yet.
Leave a Reply