Chelsea are reportedly keen on signing talented Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson but could face a significant stumbling block with shrewd negotiators Brighton and Hove Albion.
The teenage sensation, 19, has been in good form for Roberto de Zerbi’s side this season, scoring six goals in 18 Premier League outings which include a hat-trick against Newcastle United. He penned a new deal at the Amex Stadium in November which will keep him at the club until 2029. The striker’s eye-catching performances have not gone unnoticed, with Chelsea among the top Premier League clubs interested in his services.
According to The Standard, Brighton will resist any move for Evan Ferguson in the ongoing January transfer window amid links with Chelsea. Having tied him down to a new, long-term contract, the South Coast club are under no pressure to sell and are unlikely to let another talent join Chelsea after their star midfielder Moises Caicedo headed to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
The Seagulls could demand more than £100million for Ferguson’s services in a bid to turn down any Chelsea approaches in the summer, the report adds.
Evan Ferguson to Chelsea—Should the Blues pay the Brighton striker’s mooted astronomical fee?
Chelsea have struggled to score goals consistently since last season. They signed Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku from Villarreal and RB Leipzig, respectively, to improve their attacking unit ahead of the season, but the former has been quite underwhelming in front of goal while the latter has missed the majority of the campaign so far with injury. In addition, Armando Broja is yet to showcase his potential after returning from a long-term injury.
The Blues are looking to bring in a striker but with their top attacking targets unattainable during this January transfer window, they need to think out of the box and start planning for the summer transfer window. They have been long-term admirers of Brighton striker Evan Ferguson but will need to spend big for his signature.
Ferguson was one of the revelations of the Premier League last season, scoring six goals in 19 Premier League appearances. As one can expect, interest has since exploded for the Republic of Ireland international, who has already matched last season’s top-flight tally in just 18 appearances. Highly regarded across Europe, the teenager is likely to improve with coaching and experience and could develop into a top striker for Chelsea.
It is evident that Chelsea need to bring in a premium goalscorer to lead their attack next season, and Ferguson would be a solid, long-term investment. The 19-year-old has a contract with Brighton until the summer of 2029, so he is likely to cost north of £100million. Any potential move for Ferguson have to wait until the summer transfer window.
Given Ferguson’s quality, age and sky-high potential, Chelsea must not hesitate to break the bank and sign him from Brighton. As several top clubs are vying for his signature, Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea need to work hard and fast to convince the player that his future lies at Stamford Bridge rather than elsewhere.