Martin Allen has backed Evan Ferguson to be a success at West Ham should he complete a move to east London this month.
The Brighton striker has seen his first-team opportunities at the AMEX Stadium become limited since picking up an ankle injury towards the end of last season.
A combination of fitness issues and new Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler preferring Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro have led to the Northern Ireland international potentially needing to secure a move elsewhere in order to fulfill his potential.
The striker was handed his Brighton debut by new boss Graham Potter in August 2021 and has since registered 17 goals and five assists in 79 first-team appearances on the south coast.
Reports this month claim both West Ham and Arsenal are keen to bring Ferguson to the capital in January, but Brighton are not yet sure whether they would be willing to let him leave.
But ex-Hammer, Allen, believes the 20-year-old would be a quality addition to Potter’s attacking options and a success at London Stadium.
Speaking to West Ham Zone, he said: “Eighteen months ago he was being linked with Champions League level clubs, he was that good.
“More recently he hasn’t been involved too much with the new manager at Brighton, he’s been on the bench a lot so it may be someone that they look to cash in on.
“Eighteen months ago he was on fire and looked like a top player. He would be a good, young, powerful centre-forward for West Ham.
“If they were to sign him I think he would be really good.”
Indeed, Ferguson’s current injury problems pose some doubt as to whether he is the right striker to bring in to help fix the existing shortage of available strikers.
He has missed Brighton’s last few games due to the ankle injury he picked up last season still causing him significant fitness problems.
Unless he is declared fully fit before securing a move to London Stadium, a move for Ferguson poses a significant risk in a transfer West Ham can hardly afford to get wrong.
Niclas Fullkrug and Michail Antonio are both out with long-term injuries, while Jarrod Bowen is not expected to return until February at the very earliest.