West Ham have approached Brighton about the possibility of signing Evan Ferguson on loan this month, according to GiveMeSport’s Ben Jacobs.
Jacobs revealed earlier in the week that while Arsenal, Fulham and the Hammers were all showing a keen interest in the 20-year-old, the Seagulls had not yet decided whether or not to sanction his AMEX Stadium exit in the middle of the season.
The Republic of Ireland international has seen playing time limited under new boss Fabian Hurzeler this season, starting just twice in the Premier League and often being used as a late addition off the bench.
It’s in stark contrast to the last two seasons under Roberto de Zerbi, when he burst onto the scene for Brighton with a string of impressive performances up front, including netting a hat-trick against Newcastle.
An ankle injury towards the end of last term, which kept him sidelined from the beginning of April through to mid-September, appears to have stunted his development, and he’s now struggling to force his way into Brighton’s starting XI ahead of the likes of Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro.
As a result, it’s believed Brighton could allow him to leave this January to help him get the game time he needs to realise his full potential and may even be open to a loan with an obligation to buy.
Last season, Ferguson was praised by many ex-players and pundits, including the likes of Alan Shearer and Ian Wright, two of the greatest strikers to have ever played in the Premier League.
Wright said on the Second Captains podcast: “He’s got everything. He’s got the size, the touch, the shooting power, he’s got the movement in the box.”
Meanwhile, Shearer posted on X in September 2023: “Brighton’s Even Ferguson looks the real deal. Left foot, right foot, headers, pace, aggression, intuition; there is no obvious weakness to his game.
“What do I love about him? Everything.”
West Ham’s desperate need for a striker means Ferguson would no doubt get the regular top-level game time he needs to live up to the praise he was getting when he first appeared on the scene for the Seagulls.
A loan with an obligation to buy represents an ideal deal for the Hammers, who will likely need to be careful with their spending due to PSR rules following last summer’s outlay of over £140m.
It would delay the transfer outlay for another six months and allow the club to try to work out how to balance the books with some outgoings.
