Strikers left, right and centre according to rumours and reports this week. West Ham’s need to bolster the front line in January is filling column inches across Europe and of course down in Brazil where the latest Yuri Alberto offer has apparently been made and rejected.
Brighton’s Evan Ferguson has been a serious contender for a likely short-term loan to West Ham – the Seagulls apparently don’t want to sell him (c’mon, this is Brighton, they sell everyone!) but would consider a loan agreement which the player wants, to enable him to get more game time. According to various reports yesterday (givemesport,com)West Ham are now ‘at the front of the queue’ (whatever that means) to sign Ferguson on a loan deal: Leicester and Southampton want him on loan but, not surprisingly, the admiration is not reciprocated any the player.
Evan Ferguson sprints past West Ham's Nayef Aguerd
Evan Ferguson
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Having priced him at £100 million it seems from various reports this week that he’s likely to fetch more like £60 million: Way above West Ham’s aspirations.
A six month loan deal looks increasingly likely in January as many clubs simply refuse to price their assets sensibly, none really wanting to part with a player mid way through the season. Brighton in fact, might be well advised to hang on to Ferguson as an injury to Danny Welbeck may bring the young striker closer to a start at the Amex.
With a style that really would make Ferguson the perfect Antonio stand in, (C and H, Tuesday), we can only hope the loan is more in the Jesse Lingard’ vein of success rather than the abject failure of ‘Kalvin Phillips’.