Evan Ferguson ‘transfer decision nailed on’ at West Ham as Brighton exit nears
West Ham United will surely be forced to move on from Evan Ferguson as Brighton prepare to sanction another transfer.
The Athletic reported on 21 January that Seagulls attacker Julio Enciso is set to join Premier League strugglers Ipswich Town on loan for the rest of the season, likely shutting the door on further exits.
Ferguson, 20, is wanted by the Hammers and a plethora of other clubs across Europe, but the chances of him moving away from the Amex Stadium before 3 February have now been “reduced” significantly.
That certainly doesn’t help Graham Potter’s bid to solve the Irons’ striker crisis with less than two weeks remaining in the winter transfer window, and it’s unclear where the 49-year-old will turn to next.
Evan Ferguson transfer update a hammer blow for West Ham
While Brighton’s position on retaining Ferguson is understandable in the wake of Enciso’ imminent exit, the Irons will still be frustrated at missing out on a striker whom they appeared to be in pole position for.
Signing a striker before the window shuts remains of paramount importance if Potter is to get a tune out of the faltering group of players he’s inherited in East London, with a dearth of options at his disposal.
Niclas Fullkrug picking up yet another injury just 16 minutes into Potter’s first match in charge was hardly an ideal start, particularly with long-term number nine Michail Antonio also out for the long-term.
That leaves Danny Ings – the second-oldest of the Irons’ over-30 strikeforce – as Potter’s only out-and-out frontman, and even then he’s opted to play Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus in false nine roles.
Missing out on former charge Ferguson will be a bitter pill for Potter to swallow, but given the vast array of options still on the market, he’ll know that the Irons can’t afford to rest in the final days of the window.
And if nothing else, at least West Ham chiefs now know that Ferguson staying at Brighton is pretty much nailed on.
In other West Ham news, an Aston Villa legend has given his verdict on the Irons’ bid to sign Jhon Duran this month.
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