Call me an old cynic, but rumours that Champions League clubs are clamouring over themselves to sign Brighton’s Evan Ferguson are rather convenient.
Sky Sports have reported this evening that West Ham remain in the hunt for the Brighton hitman (not literally) but face stiff competition. Whilst I’m not suggesting there is no interest in the player, there is an element of me which worries the Hammers are getting played.
The reported queue for the big strikers services is almost as convenient as Brighton telling the world they wouldn’t consider letting the 2o year old leave before the end of the transfer window. We have since discovered Ferguson has a mystery foot injury, which would likely have led to a failed medical anyway—also incredibly convenient.
Predictably, there are calls for the club to “pay up” and use the £57m Duran money— which we probably never had in the first place— and give it to Brighton, just so the Hammers can beat the likes of Arsenal, Leverkusen, and presumably the Harlem Globetrotters to the signing of the player.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who is more than a little concerned that we might get our pants pulled down on this one.
While Ferguson is undoubtedly a talented player, he has a suspect injury record and has scored just 14 senior goals. Anything requiring more financial commitment than a loan with an option to buy would be rather naïve, in my opinion.
The club must hold their nerve on this deal and pay no attention to the clamour on social media to “pay whatever it takes.” Every player has their value, but it’s almost impossible to gauge Ferguson’s given his limited record and injuries.
Just because somebody once claimed he was a £100m player doesn’t make £50m a bargain.