West Ham will be just as dumbstruck as Brighton after shock new claims emerged about Evan Ferguson’s next move.
It is fair to say when Evan Ferguson joined West Ham on loan from Brighton in the winter window it made sense for all parties.
Here was one of the most highly-rated young strikers in Europe desperately in need of game time after an injury-plagued 18 months which had stunted his development.
And the 20-year-old Irishman was leaving a club in Brighton where he had three forwards ahead of him to join a club in West Ham who had just one fit senior striker, whose face didn’t fit, in Danny Ings.
Ferguson’s “perfect” West Ham move turned into nightmare
A chance then for Ferguson to start every week, regain his fitness and confidence and either go back to Brighton restored or join the Hammers in a permanent move to finally end their seemingly never-ending search for a young striker.
Especially given the existing relationship between West Ham boss Graham Potter and Ferguson.
It should have been a match made in heaven – especially as the Hammers did not have to fork out too much to bring the out-of-favour star to east London.
Expectation vs reality was very different, though.
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Fast forward four months and Ferguson became the latest addition to a long list of West Ham striker flops.
He made just one start for the Hammers and seven appearances as a substitute, playing a combined total of just 152 minutes – effectively one game and a half.
The most damning statistic of all, though, was the fact Ferguson failed to register a single shot on target for West Ham, never mind score a goal.
When he did get a start at Wolves, Ferguson somehow fluffed a tap-in to give the Hammers an early lead in a game they went on to lose.
Any confidence the once £100m-rated striker did have drained from his body and he was subbed off at half-time barely to be seen again.
West Ham as shocked as Brighton at new Ferguson claims
The loan move descended into something of a slinging match at one stage.
Ireland assistant boss John O’Shea slammed Potter’s treatment of Ferguson.
Ferguson also criticised Potter himself and vowed to prove him wrong after scoring for Ireland in the March break.
But things did not improve and Sky Sports pundit Michael Dawson was critical of Potter’s ‘strange’ treatment of Ferguson.
West Ham’s owners were not happy with how Ferguson’s loan panned out and poured cold water on any chance of making it permanent very early on.
Now West Ham will be as dumbstruck as Brighton at shocking new Ferguson claims.
Brighton-owned Evan Ferguson was mostly an unused sub during his unhappy loan spell at West Ham
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When there was speculation West Ham could make Ferguson’s move permanent if the loan went well, Brighton were said to be demanding as much as £50m.
It was reported at the time that the Seagulls believed a successful loan in east London would boost Ferguson’s price and list of suitors.
West Ham are still desperately searching for a new striker but are yet to make a single signing.
In fact Ferguson remains Potter’s only signing since taking over at the London Stadium.
Now after his disastrous West Ham spell, Brighton are literally trying to give Ferguson away.
And they have got a bite from one of the biggest clubs in Europe that will have surprised them as much as the Hammers.
Giants pushing to sign Ferguson in new Dome
Because Roma are now in talks to take Ferguson on loan while a number of other clubs have reportedly thrown their hats in the ring too.
Sky Sports reports giants Roma hope to bring Ferguson in to bolster new boss Gian Piero Gasperini’s strike force.
Fabrizio Romano has doubled down on those claims, stating that Ferguson is one of the options under consideration at AS Roma for the new striker position.
Romano also claims details of the deal have been exchanged with Brighton ‘open to his potential exit’.
Wonders never cease.
Perhaps a change of league, culture and surroundings will help Ferguson get back on track.
But West Ham saw few signs of any top talent in there when he wasted five months of his career in east London.