Manchester United forward Joe Hugill is set to join Carlisle United on loan for the remainder of the season.
The 21-year-old striker, who has shown promise coming through United’s academy ranks, initially joined Wigan Athletic on loan in the summer.
During his stint with the League One side, Hugill scored five goals in 18 appearances, a solid return despite Wigan’s struggles near the bottom of the table.
However, his loan was cut short last week as Wigan opted to sign Will Goodwin from Oxford United to compete with Dale Taylor for their lone striker role.
United have acted swiftly to secure a new opportunity for Hugill, who is not yet ready for a first-team role at Old Trafford.
According to The Athletic, the striker is undergoing a medical at Carlisle United ahead of a loan move to Brunton Park. United prioritized finding a club that aligns with Hugill’s playing style and could guarantee him regular minutes.
Hugill had interest from several clubs, including Northampton, Shrewsbury, Colchester, and Newport. However, Carlisle, currently sitting at the bottom of League Two, emerged as the successful suitor.
The young forward is expected to play a significant role in Carlisle’s battle to avoid relegation, providing much-needed firepower for a team that has scored just 19 goals in 24 league matches this season.
Hugill is anticipated to be registered in time to feature against play-off hopefuls Bradford City on Saturday.
Carlisle manager Mike Williamson will be counting on Hugill to strengthen an attack that has struggled, with his team currently seven points from safety and having won just four of 21 games under Williamson’s tenure.
Despite ending Hugill’s loan, Wigan boss Shaun Maloney spoke highly of the young striker, emphasizing that the decision was financial rather than performance-related.
"It's a budget-related decision," Maloney said. "Joe has done really well here, and I’ve enjoyed working with him. He’s a young player with plenty of potential to develop further.
"Over the last 10 games, Dale Taylor has been in excellent form, and Joe needs to play regularly. It wasn’t about his performance or training—it’s just that we can only afford to carry two strikers at the moment, and we’ve chosen Dale and Will Goodwin."
Hugill’s move to Carlisle represents an important opportunity for him to gain valuable experience and help the club in their fight for survival.
