The final week of the January transfer window is upon us and still rumours persist that Brighton will loan out Evan Ferguson for the second half of the season.
Which would be a pretty bold move for a club who just ended a game with their fourth-choice centre back playing up front.
When Adam Webster was introduced from the bench as a striker for the final five minutes of the 1-0 home defeat to Everton, I initially thought I had inadvertently taken an acid tablet at half time and was subsequently hallucinating.
But no. Webster really was being used as a centre forward. Fabian Hurzeler had rewound the clock 20 years. 2025 Premier League Brighton were copying the tactics of 2005 Championship relegation candidates Brighton. Webster the new Adam Virgo. Hurzeler the new Mark McGhee.
There are a couple of reasons why we were treated to striker Webster. One is that Hurzeler had ran out of ideas. Webster up front was a last, desperate roll of the dice to try and unlock an Everton side who the Albion had managed just a single shot on target against.
Another reason is that Hurzeler had no other options. Georginio Rutter was the only player out of nine named substitutes capable of playing as something like a striker. He had been introduced at half time in place of the ineffective Brajan Gruda.
Brighton were already light on central forward players before allowing Julio Enciso to join Ipswich Town on loan.
If Ferguson is to follow Enciso out the Brighton loan door, it would deplete the numbers available to Hurzeler even further.
Admittedly, Ferguson has barely featured this season. Injuries have not helped. But he does also not appear to have the full trust of Hurzeler for whatever reason.
Ferguson has only one Albion goal to his name in 14 months now. It came in the 2-2 Amex draw against Wolves and should have wrapped up victory.
Brighton though contrived to concede twice from the 88th minute onwards to blow a 2-0 lead, dropping two points to their relegation-threatened visitors.
Despite his lack of goals, Ferguson is not short of suitors. It would actually be easier to list those not linked with making a permanent or loan move to lure Ferguson from Brighton.
Rumoured destinations include Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea towards the top of the Premier League. West Ham and Everton nearer the bottom.
Should the Albion not want to strengthen a top flight rival, several Championship clubs have been mooted. Including 1996 Coca Cola Cup runners up The Leeds United.
The pitfalls of Ferguson moving to Elland Road would be Leeds fans assuming the deal inevitably turning permanent.
Cue a summer of Peacocks supporters guaranteeing Ferguson will force through a move to Leeds. That Brighton cannot possibly turn down a bid from the biggest club in world football.
And then when the Albion do not unsurprisingly bow to the mighty Leeds, claims that none of it matters because Ferguson and Brighton will soon be in the Championship whilst the Peacocks qualify for the Champions League.
I think we could all do without another summer of Free Ben White nonsense, thanks.
A non-English club remains a real possibility. Celtic have been linked, seemingly for no reason beyond Ferguson being Irish. Quite how he benefits from moving to a Scottish Premier Division equivalent in standard to Sussex Sunday League Division Five remains to be seen.
On the continent, Roberto De Zerbi is said to want to reunite with Ferguson at Marseille. Fabrizio Romano meanwhile has reported several Bundesliga and Ligue 1 clubs have made contact with Brighton to test the water over taking Ferguson on loan.
But rather than who Ferguson joins, the more important question here is why are the Albion considering letting him leave given the current state of the squad?
Take Ferguson out of the equation and Danny Welbeck is left as the only genuine number nine available to Hurzeler. Pedro can do a job there and Rutter to a certain extent.
Both though have looked square pegs in round holes playing the role under Hurzeler this season. Which is strange in the case of Pedro, who looked comfortable leading the line under De Zerbi.
Welbeck has just returned from five weeks out injured. Pedro suffered three different injuries through 2024. It is entirely plausible Welbeck and Pedro could be ruled out at the same time during the second half of the season. Who then leads the line? Webster?
You would need to take some high-grade crystal meth to watch Webster come on up front for Brighton against Everton and still be thinking about letting Ferguson leave on loan.
Unless the Albion are going to be bringing in a striker of their own in the final throes of the January transfer window…
