After suffering a four-month ankle injury in April, it is safe to say that it has been tricky for Evan Ferguson to establish himself in the Brighton starting lineup under new manager Fabian Hurzeler.
The Irish forward burst onto the scene in 2022 as an 18-year-old, bagging six times in 19 Premier League appearances, but has since struggled to make that prior form stick in the English top flight.
27 appearances followed the season after, but a yield of the same figure of six goals led to a lack of trust in the striker at such a young age, and he subsequently fell down the pecking order. The form of veteran striker Danny Welbeck, as well as the rise of young Brazilian star Joao Pedro, have both resulted in reduced opportunities for Ferguson this season.
With Welbeck and Pedro having bagged six and five times respectively in 14 games apiece, it makes sense that Ferguson has not seen much game time of late, and is now potentially seeking a move away from the AMEX.
With the Irishman still only 20 years of age, multiple clubs are lining up to acquire his services as the January transfer deadline draws ever closer.
Current favourites
Bournemouth – 7/2
Andoni Iraola's side have emerged as the favourites to secure the young striker in January as they continue their ascent towards the higher reaches of the Premier League table. While new signing Evanilson had been impressive, notching five goals in 19 appearances at his new club, a broken leg has now resulted in the striker being sidelined until approximately early April.
This has left a gap at the Vitality Stadium for a new forward, as backup striker Enes Unal will not be expected to bear the weight of Evanilson's injury on his own.
With 32 goals in 21 games, Bournemouth have actually outscored other notably high-performing sides such as Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, becoming renowned for playing progressive football under their Spanish coach.
An exciting prospect for Ferguson, 7/2 odds could tempt punters to take a chance on the 20-year-old, as it would appear likely he would be given a lot of opportunities to impress on the South coast.
Any German club – 4/1
An interesting choice here, but rumours emerging over the past week have suggested that Stuttgart may be interested in Ferguson's services, which has led to a general consensus that the Irishman may be on his way to the Bundesliga.
A strong and physical player, the German top flight's generally weaker defences may provide some much-needed confidence for the young forward, who will have struggled with being out of the Seagulls' side.
Stuttgart themselves are in need of a bit of a boost, as they currently sit just one point adrift of a Champions League spot, so a move for Ferguson on a potential loan deal could be mutually beneficial.
At 4/1, expect there to be further rumours of the 20-year-old making a move to Germany.
West Ham – 4/1
Of the options available, West Ham could provide the best value for punters at 4/1. A freak car accident in December has left regular first-choice striker Michail Antonio with serious leg injuries, damage that doctors have stated could potentially lead to the Jamaican forward never playing football again.
To add to this, backup option Niclas Fullkrug limped off after a quarter of an hour against Aston Villa in the FA Cup, sustaining a significant hamstring injury which has required surgery.
With no recognised striker really remaining in the Hammers squad, a move for Ferguson would seem not only sensible, but necessary.
At 4/1, West Ham could provide very good value for punters, as the London club currently have no forward options that they can rely upon.
Lifelong Ipswich Town supporter who recently graduated from Durham University in French and German. Have developed a passion for European football based on my links abroad and am an avid supporter of Werder Bremen and Auxerre. Joined the MFT team in October 2024 and looking to take my first steps into the world of football journalism.
