Evan Ferguson may have mind made up on West Ham stay already thanks to some fans

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It says a lot about how highly rated Evan Ferguson is that West Ham fans were hugely disappointed he only joined on loan.

Heading into the winter window there was no doubt West Ham needed a striker.

A plethora of forwards were linked in the run-up to the window.

Then West Ham sacked Julen Lopetegui and demoted technical director Tim Steidten – later confirming he had been sacked too.

That changed which players the Hammers were interested in, as it should.

Graham Potter arrived at West Ham on January 9th.

He had a match within 24 hours, the first of three in his opening week.

As he juggled everything that comes with taking over a new team – and a struggling one at that – before Potter knew it, it was the middle of January.

Conflicting claims on permanent West Ham move for Ferguson

West Ham went out and brought in Kyle Macauley as the club’s new head of recruitment at Potter’s request.

But all the upheaval made what is already a difficult window even more complicated.

In an ideal world West Ham would have signed a striker and a midfielder as a bare minimum.

In the end, though, Evan Ferguson was the only arrival from Brighton.

There was extreme disappointment among Hammers fans that the club only struck a straight loan deal with the Seagulls.

It was seen as a lack of ambition from the West Ham board.

Especially as Brighton were reportedly very open to selling Ferguson. Or at least agreeing to an obligation to buy.

Ferguson may have mind made up on West Ham stay already

The Irons did not want to commit and so the “dry loan” compromise was reached.

Potter was one of the big reasons West Ham were able to allegedly beat 19 other clubs to signing Ferguson.

Another was game time.

West Ham finally signed the kind of young striker the fans have been desperate for.

The big hope among supporters was that Ferguson will hit it off in east London and West Ham will agree a permanent deal with Brighton for the summer when his loan is up.

Potter has been coy on West Ham signing Ferguson permanently at the end of his loan.

Hammers sources insist buying Ferguson outright is the plan should things work out.

But the likes of football correspondent and former Sky Sports transfer reporter Graeme Bailey believes it is important West Ham fans don’t get their hopes up too much about signing Potter.

Well Ferguson may have his mind made up on a West Ham stay already thanks to some fans.

Hit and miss start to Hammers life for Ferguson

The 20-year-old Republic of Ireland star did not open up too much on his future plans after signing from Brighton.

But Ferguson hinted he might be open to a joining West Ham permanently in his first interview.

It has been a strange start, though.

Potter has stressed the striker needs to have his minutes managed after serious ankle injury problems over the last year.

Ferguson was brought on at half-time against Brentford for his first action in the claret and blue.

West Ham had put in their worst half of football for some time and were lucky to only be losing 1-0.

Ferguson made a big impact and lead the line well to get the Hammers on top. But they could not find an equaliser in the second half.

Away at Arsenal fans were disappointed Potter waited until the 82nd minute to bring on the man Brighton once valued at over £100m.

Especially as the Gunners had gone down to 10 men.

Ferguson barely touched the ball but when he did he fluffed his lines.

Some Hammers fans already writing Brighton loan star off

West Ham were breaking two on one in what looked certain to be a second goal.

Mohammed Kudus made a mess of the pass, laying it off to Ferguson after allowing the Arsenal defender to get back goal side.

Ferguson should have done better than he did, though, getting the ball caught under his feet and the chance was gone.

Given his lack of match action, that was totally understandable agreed most fans.

When he missed a really good chance to open his West Ham account against Leicester, though, it started a different conversation.

Jarrod Bowen put Ferguson in to make it 3-0.

But he took too long to sort his feet out and his tame effort was blocked by the recovering defender.

Ferguson looked gutted about the missed opportunity. Even after the final whistle he has his head in his hands.

Suddenly some Hammers fans have been taking to social media, fan forums and chat groups suggesting Ferguson isn’t all that.

Give Ferguson a chance, he’s the same age as Scarles

Some have even suggested the club were wise not to include an option or obligation to buy in the loan deal.

There is a section of the West Ham fanbase who have written Ferguson off already.

After just three cameo sub appearances following over a month out injured recently, the young striker fans have been crying out for – who is clearly low on confidence – is already being questioned by an impatient and vocal minority.

If Ferguson catches wind of the negativity from some West Ham fans already, could anyone blame him if he has already canned the idea of joining the club permanently in the summer.

There is every chance Ferguson could catch fire in the remaining 11 games.

Then those supporters likening him to a ‘poor man’s Andy Carroll’ and even Neil Mellor will be begging him to stay.

Players remember things like that so fans should think carefully about judging a player too soon.

Not every loan signing will hit the ground running like Jesse Lingard did. Give the kid a chance for goodness sake, he’s the same age as Ollie Scarles.

One man who thinks Ferguson and West Ham are the perfect match is ex Hammers hero Dean Ashton.

Ferguson will now be aiming to prove his fitness and a few Hammers doubters wrong in the coming weeks and months.