Manchester United are reportedly preparing to battle Liverpool and Arsenal for the coveted signature of Brighton & Hove Albion wonderkid Evan Ferguson.
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Manchester United will face a four-way battle from fellow Premier League rivals Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal to snare Brighton striker Evan Ferguson during next summer’s transfer window.
Ferguson is part of the latest crop of Brighton stars picking up major interest from Premier League bigwigs. After managing 15 goals in 43 games for Brighton and having only recently turned 19 years of age, Ferguson is one of the hottest properties in the Premier League.
The Republic of Ireland international has been a regular for the Seagulls this season, featuring 21 times across all competitions and finding the back of the net on six occasions, with all of his goals coming in the Premier League.
Brighton tied down the Irish talent to a new long-term contract in November, with his terms at the Amex due to run until June 2029.
However, Seagulls chief executive Paul Barber recently hinted that the teenager could be sold in the near future, with the club bracing for a challenge to keep him due to the number of clubs showing an interest. A mid-season move is considered unlikely, although Erik ten Hag’s team may make an effort to sign him next summer.
United’s misfiring forward line has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons of late. The Red Devils have failed to score in four successive matches, and the lack of cutting edge in the final third has come under sharp criticism from fans and pundits alike.
Rasmus Hojlund is still waiting to open his Premier League account since joining from Atalanta in the summer. With injury-prone Anthony Martial as their only other striking option, the Red Devils are now looking to sign another forward in January to help the young Dane. As such, Ten Hag could end up with a formidable strike partnership involving both Hojlund and Ferguson.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are the long-term admirers of Ferguson, who was on trial with the Reds during his youth days and actually had an opportunity to sign for the Anfield club but turned it down in favour of a better pathway at Brighton.
The Reds have recently invested in their attack, and adding a new No. 9 doesn’t appear to be a priority for the club. However, should Darwin Nunez continue to misfire in front of goal, Ferguson becomes a viable target.
A top-notch centre-forward may be the only thing missing from Mikel Arteta’s Premier League title-chasing Arsenal squad. They are looking for a natural goalscorer to complement the all-round brilliance of Gabriel Jesus, and Ferguson ticks all of the boxes. He has the ability to score with either foot or with his head, while he can also keep two centre-backs busy at once.
Brighton are rumoured to be demanding a British record transfer fee for Ferguson, which adds an extra layer of intrigue to this heated transfer saga.
