Ferguson red flags as expert shares what he’s heard about new West Ham signing
West Ham United can get the best out of “sensation” Evan Ferguson whose career has become “lukewarm”, according to Ian Darke.
The TV commentator, speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone, claims to have heard stories that he had “flattened out” at Brighton & Hove Albion, having been a peripheral player under Fabian Hurzeler.
Ferguson, 20, has signed on loan at the London Stadium until the end of the season – reuniting the Irishman with former Albion boss Graham Potter.
“Nothing had seemed to be happening with Ferguson, and I’ve heard stories that he’d flattened out. He was a sensation to start with, but you wonder why Brighton didn’t want him as they even considered selling him,” Darke said.
“There’s a question mark against the lad at the moment, but if he rediscovers that old form he can really help West Ham. He was a hot property; he’s a lukewarm property at the moment.
“Potter maybe knows the combination to the safe with him.”
Evan Ferguson could rekindle his best form at West Ham
Ferguson was always trusted by Potter in his teenage years bedding into the Brighton team, and is likely to enjoy the bounce of a new chapter under his former manager.
Hurzeler became less keen on the frontman this season despite his past form for the Seagulls which included 10 goals in the 2022-23 season, a term he started as a 17-year-old, and he has also had to battle a recent ankle injury.
The Hammers needed a striker badly – only Danny Ings, who was himself linked with a last-gasp move to Celtic (The Sun, 3 February) despite featuring against Chelsea on Monday night (3 February) – was an out-and-out centre-forward fit and ready in the squad.
Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus have all operated as makeshift forwards, with Bowen returning to fitness to lead the line and open the scoring at Stamford Bridge in an ultimately unlucky 2-1 defeat.
Ferguson will be looking to get off the mark as quickly as possible, with just a solitary goal to his name this season so far, but will have to wait for his debut for 15 February at the earliest when Brentford make the trip to the East End.
In other West Ham news, Hammers chiefs are likely to be “fuming” over a deal which never went through.
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