Evan Ferguson transfer hint dropped by Brighton boss as Arsenal ponder late move
Evan Ferguson, who has been hampered by a series of niggling injuries since bursting on to the scene as a teenager, has been linked with moves to Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen and West Ham during the January transfer window
by Press Association · The MirrorBrighton boss Fabian Hurzeler had admitted Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson simply needs to play somewhere to rediscover his top form.
The 20-year-old frontman, hampered by a series of niggling injuries since bursting on to the scene as a teenager, has been linked with moves to Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen and West Ham during the January transfer window.
Ferguson returned to training on Wednesday after his latest setback and could be included in the Seagulls squad for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest.
However, asked if he could be allowed to leave the club either on a permanent or loan basis before Monday’s deadline, head coach Hurzeler told a press conference: “I want to keep working with him.
“But like I’ve always said, it’s important to discuss with him what is important for the individual development of the player because that’s the main thing from the club. We want to improve the development of the players, we want to help them and therefore we need an exchange.
“Then we’ll see what makes sense for the player [over] the next six months, what makes sense for the club and then we will make a decision together. It won’t be an individual decision, always a togetherness.
“I’ve felt in the conversations I’ve had with Evan that he only wants to play, that’s his main thing, no matter if it’s here or for another club.”
Such was Ferguson’s rise that he was handed a senior international debut in a friendly against Norway as an 18-year-old in November 2022 and scored his first Ireland goal against Latvia in the following March.
A hat-trick in Brighton ’s 3-1 Premier League win against Newcastle in September 2023 set tongues wagging, but fitness concerns for much of the intervening period have seen him struggle to fulfil that early promise.
Hurzeler said: “I think it’s difficult if you have always small issues, you can’t get in your rhythm, that’s the main thing. We need to get him being stable on the pitch, being consistently on the pitch, and therefore we try to help him to get the right shape, to be more resilient.
“He hasn’t forgotten how to score goals, he’s still a big danger for every team. He shows it in every session that he has an unbelievable skill, and that’s also our responsibility to help him to get this shape back where he was once.
“I’m sure that he will be back, but the most important thing is that he gets in his rhythm and that his body is more resilient.”
Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky Sports deal
Sky Sports launches discounted Premier League package
£35 (was £43)
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £192 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.