Former Lincoln City loanee Morgan Whittaker is reportedly a target for West Ham United as the London club look to strengthen their squad following relegation from the Premier League.
The Hammers are considering a move for the Middlesbrough attacker ahead of the new Championship campaign. Boro want to retain the 25-year-old, but may face a battle to convince him to remain at the Riverside Stadium if West Ham formalise their interest.
Whittaker joined Middlesbrough from Plymouth Argyle in January 2025, with the deal reportedly worth around £5 million plus potential add-ons. He subsequently became an important part of the side which reached last season’s Championship play-off final, only to suffer a 1-0 defeat against Hull City at Wembley.
West Ham are now weighing up whether to bring him to the London Stadium as they attempt to secure an immediate return to the Premier League. They have already lost a number of players this summer, although captain Jarrod Bowen has committed his immediate future to the club by signing a new contract.
Whittaker’s rise since leaving Sincil Bank has been an interesting one. The Imps first attempted to sign him from Swansea City during the summer of 2021, with the forward travelling to the training ground ahead of an anticipated loan move.
However, Swansea performed a late change of heart and decided to keep Whittaker in Wales. It was a frustrating outcome for Lincoln, particularly as Michael Appleton’s side subsequently struggled for attacking spark during the opening months of the campaign.
City returned for Whittaker in January 2022 and this time completed a loan agreement for the remainder of the season. He made an immediate impact, starting and scoring during a 2-0 victory over Oxford United at Sincil Bank.
Operating primarily from the right side of the attack, Whittaker offered direct running, a willingness to shoot and the ability to move inside onto his stronger left foot. He scored five times in 20 League One appearances, although his time with the Imps came during a difficult campaign following the highs of the previous season’s play-off final.
His spell was not always straightforward. Whittaker was sent off after scoring against Charlton Athletic and, during a period of growing frustration around the club, was once booed as he entered the field as a substitute. That reaction always felt particularly harsh. Whittaker was a young player joining a side short of confidence and struggling to replicate the football produced during the previous campaign.
His next loan move provided a much better platform. Whittaker joined Plymouth Argyle in July 2022 and quickly became one of the division’s most influential attacking players, earning the League One Player of the Month award for September.
Swansea recalled him midway through the season, but Plymouth brought him back permanently in July 2023 for what was then a club-record fee. He rewarded their investment with an outstanding first full Championship campaign, scoring regularly and producing one of the defining individual seasons in Argyle’s recent history.
That included a hat-trick against Norwich City, the Championship Player of the Month award for January 2024 and selection in the division’s Team of the Season. He was also named Plymouth’s Player of the Season after helping them preserve their second-tier status.
His performances eventually earned him the move to Middlesbrough, where he has continued to operate as either an attacking midfielder or right winger. His ability to carry the ball, attack space and produce goals from outside the penalty area would appear to fit the profile West Ham require following their relegation.
We only saw Whittaker for half a season, and perhaps not under circumstances which allowed him to display his full potential. Even so, his five goals were valuable as the Imps secured League One survival, and his subsequent progress has demonstrated the talent that was evident during his time at Sincil Bank.
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