Brighton have been urged to speak with Roma about manager Gian Piero Gasperini and his comments on Evan Ferguson.
The striker has struggled for form since joining the Serie A outfit on loan over the summer, with injuries and shaky displays prompting criticism from his boss. Nevertheless, the Irishman has scored five goals in 22 appearances for the club in all competitions.
Ferguson has struggled with a recurring ankle problem since his time with the Seagulls, and Gasperini went as far as revealing the full extent of the issue publicly last weekend when the forward was unavailable.
He said: “We’re working to get him back on his feet, but every time he changes direction, the ankle seems to sprain.
“It’s one (ankle) or the other, but the one he had an operation on is the most problematic, which hasn’t completely solved the problem. We’re all working to try and fix the situation. From a psychological point of view, he’s not very pleased and is very depressed.”
The honest outburst raised eyebrows given that the majority of injury issues are discussed in-house, prompting former Premier League star Kevin Kilbane to jump to the defence of his fellow Irishman.
The 49-year-old feels that Gasperini’s comments overstepped the line, especially as Roma only have an option to sign Ferguson at the end of the season rather than an obligation, and therefore have no true incentive to protect his market value.
Writing for the Irish Times, Kilbane explained: “Gasperini did not want Ferguson. His stream of negative quotes and the reporting in Italy back this up.
“Gasperini, clearly, is not concerned by the repercussions of his continually negative commentary on Ferguson. He cannot be allowed to get away with the reputational damage he is causing. Brighton or Roma should intervene, quietly.
“Have a word because a young man’s career is being stained by the Roma manager’s ‘medical opinion’. Moves to future clubs could be influenced by his public utterances.”
Brighton have developed a reputation for selling players for what some would deem inflated fees, and thus Gasperini’s comments will do their hopes of offloading Ferguson for a healthy figure no favours if they deem him surplus to requirements at the end of the season.
Therefore, it remains to be seen whether Kilbane’s observations are taken on board by the higher powers at the Amex Stadium and the Seagulls request for Gasperini to consider the implications of his comments going forward.