De Zerbi to ‘steal Potter’s thunder’ again as West Ham face Evan Ferguson twist
Roberto De Zerbi could haunt Graham Potter by luring West Ham United transfer target Evan Ferguson to Marseille this winter transfer window.
The Irons identified the need to sign a new centre-forward long before the window started, but with only one week to go until the deadline, they are yet to bring one in through the doors at the London Stadium.
Potter has identified Ferguson as his first-choice target despite the East London outfit holding talks over signing several others, including Andre Silva and Brian Brobbey [talkSPORT].
There have been suggestions that the English tactician’s work with the 20-year-old could give them a major advantage in the race to sign him [The Telegraph].
However, all that could now change as Marseille have entered the race to sign the Ireland international, according to Foot Mercato (27 January).
De Zerbi to pip Graham Potter and West Ham to Evan Ferguson transfer
There is only factor linking De Zerbi, Potter and Ferguson and that is Brighton.
The centre-forward made his senior debut for the Seagulls under Potter, coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 EFL Cup win against Cardiff City on 24 August 2021.
He went on to make five first-team appearances under the former Swansea City boss, but it was under De Zerbi that he established himself as an important player at Brighton, scoring 15 goals in 60 games.
Meanwhile, Potter will be frustrated to see De Zerbi enter the race to sign Ferguson, having already seen the Italian steal his thunder at the Amex Stadium.
The current West Ham head coach laid the foundations at Brighton, leading them to a ninth-place finish in the 2021-22 season after lingering around the relegation zone in their first four seasons in the Premier League after coming up from the Championship.
However, De Zerbi finished sixth with the Seagulls in his very first season in charge of them, while Potter regretted his decision to join Chelsea less than three months into that season.
During that period, Potter saw his reputation as a manager crash, while De Zerbi received flowers for his work as the Brighton boss.
The last thing the former Ostersunds manager wants right now is to be embarrassed by his Seagulls successor in the race to sign Ferguson.
In other West Ham news, Tony Cottee is blown away by what one Irons star has done at the London Stadium this season.
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