Speculation has ramped up in the last 24 hours that West Ham are closing in on a deal with Brighton for Evan Ferguson.
West Ham’s search for a new striker in the January transfer window looks set to go down to the wire.
The Hammers have been linked with a plethora of forwards over the last two months.
But with just six days to go until the winter window slams shut, West Ham are yet to land a striker for new boss Graham Potter.
West Ham’s £57m bid for Jhon Duran has caused confusion and raised expectations over West Ham’s budget and intentions for the window.
The club’s owners have insisted they are close to the PSR limit for wages to turnover.
As a result the Hammers have predominantly been looking at loan deals with options or obligations to buy.
West Ham issued a tantalising transfer statement overnight.
It was stated that several possible deals are being worked on with a striker still very much the priority.
Negotiations with Ajax over striker Brian Brobbey hit a dead end with the Dutch club demanding a permanent deal or obligation clause.
The Irons are unsure Brobbey will cut it in the Premier League and therefore only want a loan with option to buy.
Speculation ramps up on West Ham move for Ferguson
There have also been repeated talks with Brighton about their forward Evan Ferguson.
Potter has allegedly told David Sullivan that Ferguson is the man he wants at West Ham.
The new Hammers boss signed Ferguson at Brighton and gave him his Premier League debut.
Since that news emerged, Andy Naylor – a top Brighton journalist at The Athletic – has claimed West Ham are among the leading contenders for Ferguson.
Crucially Naylor has also revealed Brighton are now open to Ferguson’s permanent departure.
Ferguson is well down the pecking order at Brighton.
And there has been talk for some time that Brighton would be open to his departure.
Perfect for West Ham then, especially given it seems the club have money to spend after their Duran bid?
And particularly because of the close relationship between Irish striker Ferguson and Potter.
Well the Hammers have once again confirmed they are in the mix to sign him.
But there’s a problem.
West Ham reveal major hurdle in deal with Brighton for Ferguson
West Ham have revealed the major hurdle in striking a deal with Brighton for Ferguson.
Hammers News put the latest Ferguson rumours to the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners.
It was put to the key senior London Stadium contact that things seem to be ramping up on talk of Ferguson signing for West Ham.
His ongoing injury was an issue when the West Ham spokesman last issued a response to Hammers News about Ferguson.
Now the striker is coming to the back end of that ankle injury, West Ham are looking to do a deal with the Seagulls.
The issue is – they are far from being alone.
“We are competing with 20 clubs for Ferguson,” the West Ham spokesman exclusively told Hammers News.
Among them are Bundesliga clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen – who are about to sell longstanding West Ham target Victor Boniface to raise funds.
Ferguson’s Brighton contract runs until 2029, having signed fresh terms in April 2023 and then again in November of that year.
The 20-year-old – who is close with ex Hammer Liam Brady – began the 2023-24 season with six goals in 12 league matches, including a hat-trick against Newcastle United.
His season was curtailed in April by an ankle injury that ruled him out for the next six months.
Ferguson then went 11 months without a goal until scoring as a substitute in a 2-2 home draw against Wolves at the end of October.
He has found game time hard to come by under Fabian Hurzeler – himself a former West Ham target.
Danny Welbeck, Joao Pedro and Georginio are all ahead of him in the central attacking options at the Amex.
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