Despite his recent contract announcement, Brighton and Hove Albion appear to be resigned to losing starlet Evan Ferguson.
The Republic of Ireland international signed an initial contract extension in April that would have taken him until 2029, but opted to sign a new deal earlier in November that will now take him until June 2029. The new terms do not include a release clause.
Such news came as a surprise to those clubs pursuing Ferguson, such as Manchester United, because his short-term future is now almost certainly tied to the Amex. They won’t be able to keep European interest at bay for long, especially if the youngster is looking for a change of scenery soon.
Ferguson, who grew up as a self-proclaimed Red, is one player who the Old Trafford faithful would love to see lead the line in M16. He is already regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in world football and is poised to become one of the most sought-after strikers if his development continues apace.
The 19-year-old has 11 Premier League goals since joining from Bohemians in 2021, and it is expected that the Seagulls would demand a record-breaking transfer fee if he were to leave in the near future.
They set a British record last summer when they sold Moises Caicedo to Chelsea for an eye-watering £115 million, so clubs better be prepared to break the bank for Ferguson.
Brighton CEO on Ferguson’s possible departure
While Brighton will do everything possible to keep the frontman, it appears that they have accepted that the day will come when they have to let him go.
When speaking to Soccerex TV, their chief executive Paul Barber stated (via Manchester Evening News): “At some point in the future, Evan’s going to be playing at an even higher level if his trajectory continues as it is.” We want to do everything we can to prepare him for that, not just on the field, but also off the field, and to provide him with as much support as possible.
“I believe, as I previously stated, that the higher level we can play at, the better our chances of keeping our top players for a longer period of time.” It does not mean that we will be able to keep them indefinitely, because players will have their own goals in terms of the club they want to play for, the league they want to play in, and the competitions they want to compete in. And we must be mindful of this.
“I believe – and [Brighton chairman] Tony Bloom believes – that if we can show players clear pathways, not just through our club but also beyond our club, that will help us attract other younger players in the future.” This is good because it keeps our model moving. It keeps our cycle going and, hopefully, it keeps us successful.”
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