Why Ferguson is better off avoiding Blues’ advances
OF the three teams on 31 points in the Premier League, Evan Ferguson plays for one, Brighton, and is coveted by the other two immediately below – Manchester United and Chelsea.
The latter club throws money at Brighton like confetti at a wedding.
Between the summer of 2022 and 2023, the Blues splurged in excess of €260million on Brighton players, Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Robert Sanchez.
More cash could flow in the current transfer window as Chelsea are eyeing up Brighton’s 19-year-old Ireland centre-forward Ferguson.
To fend off free-spending Chelsea owner Todd Boehly, and other suitors, Brighton tied the Co Meath teenager to a contract that runs until the summer of 2029.
They have since slapped a £100m (€116m) transfer fee on Ferguson which would be a record price for any Premier League forward.
It’s a mind-boggling sum for a player who has scored 12 goals in 38 top-flight games, and played just 2,000 minutes of top flight football.
While Chelsea are struggling for a spear-head in attack deliver – Cole Palmer’s penalty gave them a 1-0 win over Fulham yesterday – they do have other options in Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja.
If Ferguson signed, where would he fit in? How often would he play?
As is stands, Ferguson’s form has dipped a little after his explosive start to the Premier League season.
Since then, he has scored two goals in 20 games, the first such drought of his senior career. Even so, Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi picks two forwards from Joao Pedro, Danny Wellbeck and Ferguson, to start every game, with the other on the bench.
Even if Chelsea wave a nine-figure cheque, Ferguson should stay put at Brighton where he can continue his development and work under a progressive manager who values him. There will be plenty more offers down the road.