West Ham fans are closing in on the signing of Evan Ferguson from Brighton but the nature of the deal is dividing opinion.
The wait is almost over for West Ham to finally sign the kind of striker their fans have been crying out for.
West Ham have repeatedly failed to get it right when it comes to striker signings.
Pending a successful medical in east London on Sunday, Evan Ferguson will become the 54th striker signing since David Sullivan took over the Hammers 15 years ago.
That’s according to widespread reports that a deal has been agreed between West Ham, the Seagulls and Ferguson today.
Not all of West Ham’s forward acquisitions have been flops. But the Hammers have rarely got it right. And when they have, the player in question usually hasn’t stuck around too long.
That’s good old Michail Antonio is West Ham’s top scorer of the Premier League era with just 68 goals in nearly 10 years.
It says everything that Ferguson will be West Ham’s latest attempt at replacing Antonio.
It hasn’t always been the fault of the manager, the Hammers board or even the player.
Indeed many fans have long bemoaned the West Ham striker curse.
Too often not enough due diligence has been done on whether the striker signings will fit the system and style of play. Or whether they have the attributes West Ham need, are good enough to play in the Premier League or are they the right age and profile.
Will Ferguson finally end the West Ham striker curse?
And far too often there has been a lack of caution when signing players with lengthy injury histories.
West Ham have been guilty of either scraping the barrel by going for cheap striker deals.
Or signing big-name strikers often past their prime on big wages.
When proper money has been spent on the likes of Sebastien Haller (£45m), Gianluca Scamacca (£30m) and Niclas Fullkrug (£26.5m) – the club have had their fingers burned.
West Ham will be hoping Ferguson – specifically wanted by his former manager Graham Potter – is the man to end the club’s striker problems.
The reportedly imminent signing has West Ham fans divided, though.
It has been confirmed by several sources that Ferguson is joining on what is known as a ‘dry loan’ from Brighton.
Now a top Sullivan ally has fuelled hope West Ham can sign Ferguson permanently from Brighton.
Some Hammers fans feel a straight loan smacks of short-termism and a lack of ambition.
Others feel it is sensible given Ferguson’s ankle injury issues over the last year.
There is no doubt it is a big gamble on West Ham’s part.
Sullivan ally fuels hope West Ham can sign Ferguson permanently
With no option or obligation to buy, it runs the risk of Ferguson’s value rocketing if he does well at the London Stadium.
That would also attract interest from other clubs – not that there was a shortage of suitors in this window after West Ham revealed they were competing with 20 clubs for Ferguson.
There is some hope, though, after an intriguing update from Sean Whetstone.
The prominent Hammers insider, who counts Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady among his close contacts, has revealed more details on the negotiations with Brighton.
And West Ham club sources have confirmed not only do Brighton want to sell, but the Irons wanted the opportunity to buy him permanently.
However, Brighton wanted a straight sale now whereas West Ham wanted the option to buy him at a set price in the summer.
With time ticking down on the window, the ‘straight loan’ was a compromise on the deal.
Both wanted permanent Ferguson deal in different ways
But the fact Brighton wanted to sell and West Ham wanted to have the option to buy bodes very well indeed.
Because it suggests a permanent move will still be on the agenda in the summer when A) West Ham can afford to do it and B) Ferguson has proved his fitness and durability, or otherwise.
It would not be beyond the realms of possibility that Sullivan and Tony Bloom have some sort of gentleman’s agreement in place over a permanent move if all goes well in the next few months.
Ferguson is on a relatively modest £30k per week at Brighton, which West Ham will take on in full for the next five months.
While there are no guarantees, this will reassure Hammers fans that a permanent deal is in the thinking of both clubs.
In the meantime, West Ham will hopefully feel the benefit of finally having a bona fide top class young striker leading the line.
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