Brighton boss makes it clear Evan Ferguson is on his way but the reason will worry West Ham

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Speculation has intensified that West Ham are close to making a breakthrough to sign Brighton striker Evan Ferguson.

West Ham have been heavily linked with Brighton forward Evan Ferguson from the start of the January transfer window.

A plethora of other strikers have also been linked with the Hammers.

But Graham Potter has told David Sullivan Ferguson is the man he wants at West Ham.

The new West Ham boss signed Ferguson at Brighton and gave him his Premier League debut.

Andy Naylor – a top Brighton journalist at The Athletic – claimed this week that West Ham are among the leading contenders for Ferguson.

Crucially Naylor also stated Brighton are now open to Ferguson’s permanent departure.

West Ham revealed they face a major hurdle to sign Ferguson this week – namely that 20 other clubs want him too.

Hammers News highlighted that Arsenal – the other club who were reportedly pushing hard for Ferguson – had pulled out of the running amid their desperate move for Ollie Watkins.

Hammers closing on Ferguson claims journalist

Since then Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg and others have claimed West Ham are now edging closer to winning the race for Brighton’s 20-year-old Irishman.

Steinberg, known to have strong sources inside West Ham, says the club are now ‘confident’ of bringing Ferguson to the London Stadium.

He states that a loan with an option to buy has been discussed but a £40m move could also be on the table.

West Ham fans have been voicing their frustration at the club’s failure to make signings thus far.

Especially given it was clear the Hammers needed a new striker long before injuries to Michail Antonio, Niclas Fullkrug and Jarrod Bowen.

Potter has made it clear he only wants the right players and characters and not signings for the sake of it.

It seems he and West Ham fans are about to get what they want, though.

Because Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has made it clear Ferguson is on his way but the reason will worry West Ham.

Reports Ferguson could be on his way to West Ham was the first thing Hurzeler was asked about in his Brighton press conference on Thursday afternoon.

The German was honest to admit he has spoken to Ferguson and that he just wants to be somewhere he can play.

Brighton boss makes it clear Ferguson is on his way

Hurzeler confirmed that is likely to be elsewhere and says it is out of his hands whether the club decide to loan or sell Ferguson.

When asked about Ferguson’s lack of progress since bursting onto the scene as a £100m-rated goalscoring machine, the Brighton manager’s response will concern West Ham’s fans and owners.

Because he says the Seagulls have simply struggled to build up Ferguson’s resistance to injuries.

Hurzeler revealed Ferguson is back training for the first time since an ankle injury and says he is in ‘good shape’ and available for squad selection.

But he all but confirmed Brighton will listen to the player’s wishes to go out and play regularly amid the offer from West Ham.

Reason for Ferguson exit will worry West Ham

“My job is really to focus on the work with the player outside on the pitch and that’s what we do, he trained well yesterday, he came through the session without any pain, the other things we can’t influence,” Hurzeler said on Sky Sports News when it was put to him that Brighton are going to let Ferguson leave on loan or permanently before Monday’s deadline.

“He knows my thoughts, the thoughts from the club, we know the thoughts from Evan. That I think is the most important and then we see what happens.

“It’s a good question (would he be OK with Ferguson leaving). I want to keep working with him but like I always said, it’s important to discuss with him what is important for the individual development of the player. Because that’s the main thing for the club, we want to improve the development of the player.

“We want to help him therefore we need an exchange, then we see what makes sense for the player in the next six months and then the club and then we will make a decision together.

“I felt in the conversations with Evan he only wants to play, that’s his main thing, and no matter if it’s here or for another club.”

What will worry West Ham most, though, is the Brighton manager’s reasoning on why Ferguson is in this position.

Because he simply hasn’t been able to stay injury-free for a long time.

‘Ferguson needs to go and play’ Hurzeler admits

He added: “I think it’s difficult if you have always small issues and you can’t get in your rhythm. And I think we need to get him being stable on the pitch, being consistently on the pitch.

“Then therefore we try to help him to get in the right shape, to be more resilient. He doesn’t forget how to score goals, he’s still a big danger for every team (he faces) he does it in every session that he has.

“He has an unbelievable skill and it’s our responsibility to help him get this shape back where he once was and I’m sure that he will be back. But the most important thing is that he gets in his rhythm and that his body is more resilient.”

Hurzeler says Ferguson is a brilliant character.

But he added that it is now important for Ferguson to play week in, week out to get his fitness and confidence back.

Enter West Ham and a reunion with Potter.