Evan Ferguson has been offered to Italian giants AS Roma and Atalanta.
Roma are working the hardest, according to Fabrizio Romano, and Brighton are open to allowing an ‘initial loan’ move.
What happened to Evan?!
The once teenage dream superstar has taken a hit after a mountain of injuries. His recent loan to West Ham wasn’t as effective as initially hoped, but relatively unsurprising when seeing who the head coach at the London Stadium actually is.
Graham Potter was known at Brighton for struggling to get the most out of his forwards, especially during a time when Brighton dominated the statistics for chances created and xG [expected goals] per 90.
Roberto De Zerbi offered Ferguson his best chance at breaking out, and it didn’t take long for him to explode onto the scene in the English top division. The Irish sensation was just 16 when he joined the Seagulls, and his spellbinding form in the academy was too good to ignore. Potter handed him his debut, but the real impact was shown in 2022/23.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - APRIL 04: Evan Ferguson of Brighton & Hove Albion celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion at Vitality Stadium on April 04, 2023 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
As a teenager at the time, Ferguson scored 12 Premier League goals, and during 2023, his goal against Fulham made him the first teenager since Rooney in 2005 to score ten Premier League goals in a calendar year.
Ferguson was becoming a modern great, his clinical and unusual freak of nature build were taking the Premier League by storm, but then injuries struck. Going through both injuries and illnesses, Ferguson was quickly missing game time after game time.
De Zerbi said in December 2023 that he would vow to bring him back to his best. A swift reminder that we are referring to a then 19-year-old as a washed-up talent.
“The level of Evan is higher than he is playing in this moment. But we have to help him, he has to help himself first of all to understand the play but he is very young. He is like my son. I try everything to help him because he [can] become a great player for sure.”
Of all things to be washed up since this time, it is actually the support for Ferguson to feel the bounce-back ability at the top level. Still just 20-years-old, a lot of Brighton fans have him written off as a name from the past. His best days must be behind him, and the clock has ticked past the ‘good old days’.
In reality? Most teenage strikers aren’t even playing in the Premier League regularly, let alone scoring 12 goals at that level. Players like Harry Kane were on loan at this age. Expecting exponential growth annually is tough on a young player, especially with physical problems thrown into the mix.
How can he be saved?
A loan could be beneficial, especially abroad. Escape the limelight. It remains to be seen whether the impact at Roma could be the same as his time at Brighton, with the Italian side already having strong competition up front.
One thing is for sure: accumulating more game time will be his most valuable addition now. A necessary move for Ferguson, the thought of a potential sale still feels too premature for Albion to contemplate.
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 02: Evan Ferguson of Brighton & Hove Albion celebrates after scoring his and the team's third goal during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United at American Express Community Stadium on September 02, 2023 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
For me, I don’t like the idea of giving up on young players. Seeing career resurgences and breakouts in players when they leave a certain club can be regular, especially for players like Scott McTominay at Napoli and Cole Palmer at Chelsea recently.
According to Nicolo Schira, two Premier League clubs are also interested in him, but the striker seems open to gaining experience abroad, and he will give an answer this week.
We all saw his goal against Southampton last season, an emphatic finish. Quick turn, and a low driven strike into the bottom left corner. The proceedings of the final result clouded a memorable moment for Ferguson. The goal was signature to his style: clinical and ruthless. This ability isn’t common in young strikers.
Don’t give up on Evan; #28 was supposed to be iconic. This was supposed to be Glenn Murray’s successor. We don’t give up that easily. Remember the words from Roberto De Zerbi earlier in this piece.
