West Ham and Arsenal in talks to sign Evan Ferguson but Brighton clause demand tips transfer in one’s favour

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The journalist who first broke news of Declan Rice’s move from West Ham to Arsenal claims the two clubs are locked in talks to sign Evan Ferguson.

West Ham and Arsenal are both on the hunt for a new forward in the January transfer window.

The Hammers have claimed they are ‘at their PSR limit’ and are looking for ‘smarter’ deals.

That’s after majority owner David Sullivan took back control of West Ham’s transfers following anger over how £155m was spent on nine players in the summer.

Arsenal are chasing down Liverpool in a bid to challenge for the Premier League title.

With Bukayo Saka out, the Gunners need to find a regular source of goals elsewhere.

That has seen Mikel Arteta confirm Arsenal will be looking to make additions in January.

It has also put West Ham and Arsenal on a collision course over Brighton star Evan Ferguson.

In terms of elite young strikers, they don’t come much better than Irishman Ferguson.

The Brighton talent, his grandfather and Ireland legend Liam Brady all formerly played for St Kevin’s Boys in Dublin and are friends as a result of the connection.

West Ham and Arsenal in talks to sign Evan Ferguson

Brady started his career at Arsenal and ended it at West Ham, now Ferguson could follow in the legend’s path by signing for another club he represented.

Speculation has been doing the rounds lately that Brighton are looking to offload the 20-year-old – who has been likened to Harry Kane.

Reliable journalist Sam Wallace claimed at the end of November that Ferguson is available and West Ham are interested.

Better still he said Brighton’s initial terms would suit the Hammers down to the ground and – crucially – Ferguson is desperate for a move to another Premier League club.

Of the clubs reportedly interested at the time, West Ham were by far the biggest and most realistic as Fulham and Leicester were linked too.

Since then the Hammers have lost Michail Antonio due to his horrific car crash and now Jarrod Bowen to a broken foot for at least two months – making signing a new forward in January a necessity.

Now there has been a major development as the Gunners are rivalling the Irons for the star.

Brighton clause demand tips transfer in one’s favour

West Ham and Arsenal are in talks to sign Ferguson but a Brighton clause demand tips the transfer in one’s favour.

Ben Jacobs is the journalist who first broke news of Declan Rice’s move from West Ham to Arsenal.

Jacobs claimed in the December before the £105m deal that Arsenal were planning to try and sign Rice and that Arteta had held informal talks with him.

At the time it seemed highly unlikely but six months later that’s exactly what happened.

Now Jacobs claims the Hammers and Gunners are in talks over a deal for Ferguson.

Fulham are also once again being linked – but even they have greater depth in terms of out-and-out strikers, meaning Ferguson risks walking into a similar situation there as he faces at Brighton, where he has slipped down the pecking order.

It seems Arsenal’s plans and Brighton’s insistence on a specific clause make it more likely Ferguson will join West Ham.

Jacobs says Brighton are still deciding whether to listen to the offers from West Ham and Arsenal for Ferguson in January.

Gunners have bigger plans for summer, deal suits Hammers

Both clubs – and Fulham – have officially enquired and are waiting for a clear response.

The reporter states Arsenal are unlikely to spend big on a number nine in January with Benjamin Sesko and Alexander Isak both strong summer targets.

It is suggested Arsenal are only interested in a straight loan.

And that’s where West Ham – alongside a guaranteed starting spot – hold the ace cards.

Because Jacobs says Brighton are currently inclined to insist on an obligation to buy clause for the summer if they decide to let Ferguson go in January.

With West Ham specifically targeting loans with options or obligations to circumnavigate PSR restrictions, that will be music to Sullivan’s ears.

And it may well just decide this transfer tussle in West Ham’s favour.

There is no mention of the fee Brighton will want as part of the loan or obligation.

But West Ham are expected to sell Mohammed Kudus for his £85m release clause – possibly to Arsenal – in the summer if nobody meets his £100m asking price in January.

So funding a deal come the summer should not be an issue for the Hammers.