Evan Ferguson has endured a slow start to life at West Ham leading many to write off signing him permanently already.
West Ham signed Evan Ferguson on a straight loan from Brighton with no option or obligation to buy.
But speculation has been rife a deal is still there to be done between the Hammers and Seagulls in the summer.
The ‘dry loan’ is said to have been a compromise late in the winter window.
West Ham did not want to commit to buying Ferguson outright after his longstanding ankle injury problems.
For that same reason the Hammers were reluctant to agree to an obligation clause which would have simply been kicking the can down the road.
Speculation rife over West Ham Ferguson plans
Brighton were open to a permanent transfer for Ferguson.
That’s despite valuing the 20-year-old at over £100m just 18 months ago.
Brighton were reluctant to agree to any option in the deal with West Ham, though.
The reason being they don’t want to hamstring any potential bidding war if Ferguson rediscovers his top form at the London Stadium.
Especially as 20 clubs were reportedly interested in signing him in the January window.
Graham Potter – who was key in West Ham winning that race – has said from the start Ferguson’s minutes need to be carefully managed.
Big news from West Ham training ground
But time is not on West Ham or Ferguson’s side in their bid to make minds up over a permanent summer deal.
Ferguson was brought on at half-time against Brentford for his first action in a West Ham shirt.
The Irishman made a big impact and led the line well. But he could not find an equaliser as the Hammers lost 1-0.
Potter then waited until the 82nd minute to bring on Ferguson at Arsenal.
That was despite the Hammers being 1-0 up and Arsenal being reduced to 10 men.
Ferguson barely touched the ball. But when he did he looked understandably rusty.
West Ham were breaking two on one and looked certain to go 2-0 up only for the forward to get the ball caught under his feet as the chance went begging.
Against Leicester, Ferguson was again brought on in the second half. And again he was on the end of a similar break. But he dithered too long when put in on goal by Jarrod Bowen and his shot was charged down.
Fans have voiced their disappointment at Ferguson’s start to life at West Ham.
If he hasn’t already made his mind up on staying in east London this summer, he may soon.
Because big news from West Ham’s Rush Green training ground is a crushing blow to Ferguson.
Fullkrug’s West Ham return a crushing blow to Ferguson
In what is a major boost for Potter’s options for the remainder of the season, Niclas Fullkrug has returned to full training ahead of schedule.
Hammers News has seen images from West Ham’s training ground ahead of the clash with Newcastle.
The German international striker is all smiles, tanned up and looking lean as he trains with his Hammers teammates.
Lucas Paqueta was also in the training pictures, which are not available to media outlets to publish.
Fullkrug had looked good in Potter’s first game in charge.
But it didn’t last long as he went down with a serious hamstring injury.
Fullkrug had been stepping up his Hammers rehabilitation in the Middle East but was ruled out until April at the earliest by Potter previously.
Now he could be set to return to the bench before the international break, with Newcastle and Everton on the horizon next week.
This is grim news for Ferguson.
He came to West Ham to get games. In fact he probably believed he’d be the first choice starting striker.
But he already finds himself behind Bowen and Mohammed Kudus, who are being played in dual forward roles.
Now Fullkrug is back, Potter may find he is under pressure to play the man West Ham paid £26.5m for last summer.
Especially as the Hammers are looking to prove Fullkrug’s fitness ahead of a push to sell him on and raise funds this summer.
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