Is Chelsea the right place for Ferguson?
Image credit: IrishPropaganda
Chelsea has entered the race to sign Brighton’s Evan Ferguson, but doubts remain over whether the move makes sense for the Blues.
Once valued at £100m following a sensational breakthrough, Ferguson’s stock has since declined, with Brighton now open to selling or loaning him for around £40m.
The Republic of Ireland international has drawn interest from Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Bournemouth, Everton, Tottenham, and West Ham.
Leverkusen initially led the chase, but Al-Nassr’s withdrawal from a deal for Victor Boniface has thrown their plans into disarray, giving West Ham a stronger foothold.
However, Chelsea could still muscle in on the deal.
Enzo Maresca is keen to bring in a striker to compete with Nicolas Jackson, who has failed to score in his last seven Premier League appearances.
Ferguson, despite struggling with injuries and inconsistent form, remains one of England’s most promising young forwards.
Chelsea’s co-sporting director, Paul Winstanley, is familiar with the striker from his time at Brighton, but it’s unclear whether Chelsea prefers a loan or a permanent deal.
Ferguson’s trajectory has raised concerns. He has failed to replicate his initial impact, suffering a long goal drought before a knee ligament injury last April.
His market value has plummeted to around £35m, a significant drop from its peak of nearly £60m in late 2023. Given his struggles, Chelsea may see their past hesitation as justified, with only a cut-price deal making sense at this stage.
The race for Ferguson remains unpredictable. Arsenal, in need of a striker, is prioritizing Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, while Spurs have other options ahead of Ferguson.
Bournemouth, suffering from injuries to Enes Unal and Evanilson, could provide him more regular playing time.
Meanwhile, Chelsea is exploring alternative attacking options as the transfer window nears its close.
Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel, Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, and Ipswich forward Liam Delap are all on their radar.
While Ferguson’s raw talent and physicality still make him an interesting prospect, Chelsea must decide whether he is worth the gamble or if their resources would be better spent elsewhere.