Ferguson tipped to reach the top despite Brighton manager’s caution

Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson is still attracting interest from top clubs despite struggling to rediscover his best form at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Ferguson initially made his mark with the Seagulls during the 2022/23 season, netting ten goals in 25 appearances in all competitions.

His efforts sparked talk he could rip up the Premier League the following season, and an early hat-trick against Newcastle United had bookmakers running for cover.

The teenager’s odds to win the Golden Boot were slashed as punters wagered heavily on him challenging Erling Braut Haaland for the top goalscorer award.

Bettors in overseas jurisdictions also jumped on the bandwagon by utilising safe VPN options for Stake to bet on a player who was tipped to become a superstar.

He was linked with several clubs including Arsenal and Manchester United, but a subsequent goal drought and fitness issues have quelled the rumour mill.

However, journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that he remains on the radar of top clubs, who believe he will eventually live up to expectations.

"Of course, his stock has dropped,” Romano said. “When you don’t play regularly and don’t score regularly, it’s not the same feeling we have about a player like (Viktor) Gyokeres who is scoring every week. It’s a different feeling.

"What I am hearing in the industry is that he’s still very much appreciated - he’s still highly rated. They know how good his potential is. At Brighton it is difficult because they have so many quality players. They love to rotate - it’s a different concept.

"The player is still appreciated in the market, and I still think he’s on the list of big clubs around Europe when it comes to a number nine. I can guarantee he’s still in the list of several clubs for the next years."

While Romano is convinced Ferguson remains on course to secure a big-money move, recent comments by Brighton Fabian Hurzeler suggests more caution is needed.

The Irish teenager sustained an ankle injury last March and he subsequently underwent a significant period of rehabilitation before returning to action.

Ferguson came off the bench for the Nations League ties against England and Greece earlier this month, but made little impact as Ireland slipped to consecutive defeats.

He subsequently made a late substitute appearance for Brighton against Ipswich Town, but looked a long way short of full match fitness.

The Irish striker was then handed his first start in nearly six months against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup, and showed some promise before being substituted after an hour.

He was back on the bench for Brighton’s recent 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest, and had little time to impress after being brought on late in the game.

Speaking after the Wolves match, Hurzeler indicated that Ferguson still has plenty of work to do before he will feature regularly in the starting XI.

“I think we saw in some situations how good he can be,” Hurzeler told the club’s official website. “He had some shots in the first half, he worked hard against the ball.

“He can’t be on the level already that he wants to and like he was before in the Premier League in the prime of his individual performance.

“We will try to get him there. He needs to train at 100 percent and he needs to use every training session to get as fit as possible and then I’m sure that he will help us.”