When the West Ham United-linked Josh Mulligan was quizzed on those Gareth Bale comparisons back in 2021, perhaps understandably, he was keen to play down any potential similarities between himself and a Real Madrid icon.
“I don’t know about that!” the Scotland Under-21 international chuckled, those comparisons emerging after he burst forward from full-back to score a scintillating solo goal for Dundee against Alloa Athletic.
“To be fair, that goal was the best goal I’ve ever scored. I thought it was good but comparing it Gareth Bale? I don’t know if that was a bit much!”
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Clearly, Josh Mulligan, linked with West Ham United by reporter Ben Jacobs on Wednesday, is as humble as he is adaptable.
The jet-heeled 23-year-old left Dundee for Hibernian last summer. And, while helping Hibs secure a fifth-place finish in the Scottish Premiership, his transition from a rampaging wide man into an all-action central midfielder has seen Gareth Bale’s name replaced by that of former Easter Road favourite John McGinn in the mouths of pundits and the occasional teammate.
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“He brought his game to a new level,” Martin Boyle, the Hibs veteran who has played alongside both McGinn and Mulligan, said after the former produced an ‘unbelievable’ display in December’s 3-0 victory over Falkirk.
“He took the game by the scruff of the neck. He keeps driving at people. I think he got about four people booked! He’s another player with those John McGinn vibes; head down, runs through people. It’s great to see.
“His balance is incredible; just the way he’s faster with the ball than he is without it, probably the way John was. He can only get better. Much better, I believe.”
Boyle accepts that Mulligan will likely ‘move on’ and leave Easter Road sooner rather than later.
The aforementioned Jacobs reports that, despite an ankle injury which ruled him out from January to May, West Ham have now lodged an ‘initial inquiry’.
Mateus Fernandes is certain to leave the Hammers after relegation. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is wanted by Everton, while Jarrod Bowen’s future is also far from certain.
Such is Mulligan’s versatility, the Dundee-born 23-year-old could fill gaps in all three positions. While racking up five assists and three goals for Hibs in 2025/26, Mulligan played in central midfield, right-midfield and at right-back.
Mulligan could be the Hammers’ most versatile player since Michail Antonio
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From being described as a ‘Rolls-Royce like Gareth Bale’ at Dundee – via former Dons midfielder Si Ferry – to being labelled Hibernian’s John McGinn protege; Mulligan could be an inspired and affordable piece of business for a club looking to plug various holes in their squad.
Mulligan would arguably be West Ham’s most versatile talent since Michail Antonio transitioned from right-back to centre-forward.
“He is quite versatile. I know he’s even operated at right back and right wing-back,” Hibs coach David Gray told Edinburgh News only hours before those West Ham links emerged.
“I do believe he’s better in the middle of the pitch with driving the game from midfield. He’s got probably too much power, he has that box-to-box engine, so just restricting him to staying in the middle of the pitch probably doesn’t showcase his talent just now.
“So probably that sort of running [‘number] eight’ is what he’s capable of being.
“If you see a goal going in at one end, you expect to see him [in view]. And when you concede one at the other end, you also expect to see him in that [part of the] pitch as well. He’s definitely got the capacity to do that and that’s probably where I see him at his best at the moment.”
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