But how strong those links are depends on who you listen to.
The on-loan [Albion](https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/?ref=au) striker has yet to hit the net for a Roma side struggling in the last quarter of the pitch.
Now it appears – for whatever reason – an early end to Ferguson’s loan is being eased on to the agenda in Italy.
It was one year ago this weekend that he gave Albion what looked like a winning 2-0 lead at home to Wolves and seemingly put himself back on goalscoring form.
Wrong on both counts. Wolve scored twice in added time to grab a point and that crisp finish, sent unerringly into the far bottom corner, was not the start of good things for the striker.
Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini has remained publicly supportive of both Ferguson and his fellow centre-forward Artem Dovbyk, who is hardly faring any better.
But someone is saying something quietly to Roma media to put a curtailing of Ferguson’s loan on the agenda.
Certainly, excitement over his arrival from the Premier League and a flurry of goals against lower-league opponents in friendlies has faded.
Gasperini has not started either Dovbyk or Ferguson of late, going for a more lightweight attacking unit.
His side have only scored seven goals in as many league games (their xG is not high either at 8.3, ranked eighth) but they remain fourth and were just two points off top spot after leaders Milan drew at home to Pisa on Friday night.
Roma go to Sassuolo on Sunday, a day after the two sides just above them – Napoli and Inter – have met at the Diego Maradona.
There has been some criticism of Ferguson’s levels of fitness.
Gasperini said: “Dovbyk and Ferguson are playing and have the team's trust. I don't think they're in a bad state psychologically; on the contrary, they should be very motivated."
The unattributed observations that Roma are looking for a way out of their season-long agreement over Ferguson are similar to those we heard from Sevilla about Valentin Barco this time last year.
Corriere Dello Sport reporter Jacopo Aliprandi wrote: “After ten games, it's clear that Gasperini needs a miracle to revitalise two forwards who aren't finding a tactical connection with the team, and who likely lack the right technical and mental attributes to turn their season around in such a heated environment as Roma.”
Albion and Fabian Hurzeler were clearly enthusiastic about seeing Ferguson head off to develop his trade in Serie A.
They will have agreed a season-long loan because they wanted him to be there for a season.
Hurzeler has always spoken in terms of Ferguson potentially having a way back into his Premier League side.
While he looks unstoppable at the moment, they will need a successor to Danny Welbeck at some point.
And Ferguson, who only turned 21 this week, has continued to score goals for his country.
There was some suggestion via Tuttosport newspaper and website that he could return to the XI at Sassuolo as we went into the weekend and the local media awaited the even-of-match training session.
But names of his potential successor in January are already being mentioned.
English audiences outside Nottingham have probably heard most about Roma being interested in Joshua Zirkzee at Manchester United.
In Rome, Plan A is being reported as Arnaud Kalimuendo, the 23-year-old forward from Paris currently struggling to make an impact at Forest.
Roma’s sporting director Frederic Massara worked with Kalimuendo at Rennes, where he emerged as a goalscorer over the last three seasons.
Another connection – whether it makes any difference or not – is that Forest’s chief executive Lina Souloukou was previously with Roma.
It all feels a bit like pre-window manoeuvring or jostling for position.
But, one year on, Ferguson could do with a goal which, this time, leads to more.
If he cracks it, he would be a hero in Rome and – the way the league is shaping up – potentially a difference-maker in a title race.