Everton have been linked with moves for Evan Ferguson and Vladimir Coufal
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Evan Ferguson during his loan spell at West Ham United
Evan Ferguson during his loan spell at West Ham United(Image: Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)
Everton have been linked with out of favour Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson, but any such move would represent a major U-turn in their transfer plans. An article in the Irish Times says Ferguson could be allowed to leave the Seagulls permanently after his loan at West Ham United and claims Everton are among those interested in the forward.
However, neither Ferguson nor Vladimir Coufal, started this summer high on Everton’s agenda.
David Moyes explored a move for Ferguson in January and has been consistently linked with out-of-contract Coufal, a player he has great respect for from their success together at West Ham United.
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The extent of the squad rebuild is such that plans could quickly change.
But should a move for either, or their Hammers team-mate James Ward-Prowse, who Graham Potter brought back to London Stadium on February 3, when terminating a loan at Nottingham Forest, would represent a major shift on the Blues’ position when work began on this transfer window.
After emerging as an exciting prospect with Bohemians, Brighton beat Liverpool to Ferguson’s signature in 2021 before he burst onto the scene by netting 10 goals in the 2022/23 season while also netting in his first start for the Republic of Ireland senior side in a 3-2 win over Latvia.
However, the Drogheda-born player fell down the pecking order under Fabian Hurzeler and after also struggling with an ankle injury, he was allowed to join West Ham United on loan on February 3, deadline day of the winter window.
Ferguson’s time in the capital was not fruitful and he failed to score in his eight matches, with a couple of 45-minute outings in 1-0 defeats at Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers his lengthiest appearances before not even featuring in the final three fixtures of the season.
Although they had initially shown interest when they found themselves just above the relegation zone in January, Everton’s recruitment team are understood to have been subsequently concerned by the 20-year-old’s faltering form in what was a struggling team under Potter.