Brighton mulling over Evan Ferguson sale as transfer deadline day approaches

POTTER REUNION?: Brighton and Hove Albion are now open to selling Irish striker Evan Ferguson, with a Graham Potter reunion at West Ham United by next Monday’s deadline the likeliest outcome. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

Brighton and Hove Albion are now open to selling Irish striker Evan Ferguson, with a Graham Potter reunion at West Ham United by next Monday’s deadline the likeliest outcome.

Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler last month admitted they were attempting to find the “right solution” for the 20-year-old forward amid his struggles to rediscover the form shown before last year’s serious Achilles injury.

He’s currently sidelined with an ankle knock but rather than the temporary switch that was mooted, the permanent end to his long association with the club he joined at 15 from Bohemians may well be imminent.

A string of other clubs, including Arsenal, Tottenham as well as French and German outfits, have been linked with a swoop - Bayer Leverkusen have been linked as their striker Victor Boniface looks set to leave for Saudi Arabia - but the urgent need of new Hammers boss Potter for firepower points that direction.

Michail Antonio, Jarrod Bowen and Niclas Füllkrug are all unavailable for various reasons and Potter has set Kyle McAuley an immediate task of sourcing a replacement since he was lured from Chelsea as his recruitment guru.

A loan deal is considered the probable deal format but given Brighton are pressing on without the Irishman in their plans, an obligation to buy or straight sale are possibilities.

Ferguson had been hyped as a potential £100m player during last season’s purple patch that included a hat-trick against Newcastle United but an initial figure of around half that is anticipated to be part of any transfer discussion.

Such a scenario seems unfathomable when Brighton owner spoke so glowingly of Ferguson, as recently as last March during the Cheltenham racing festival.

“As long as Brighton or the Ireland national team don’t put too much pressure on him, he will be a really key figure for many, many years to come,” said the entrepreneur.

“We love him at Brighton. He’s done amazingly. At his age, to take to Premier League football so well is truly superb.

“We hope that he’ll be with us at the Albion for a long time to come.”