"I think that lad he has got up front, I think he's pretty special."
Any Premier League club, or suitors further afield, looking to snap up Evan Ferguson before he gets too hot are already too late.
Having brought in €200m on just three outgoing transfers - Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister and Robert Sanchez - Brighton are not in any bind to sell any more players before the transfer window closes. To that end, Evan Ferguson should be sticking around for another season, unless some club makes a bonkers offer.
Well aware of Ferguson's talent, and potential, Brighton signed up the Ireland international to a new contract until July 2028.
That deal puts the teenager on a reported £20,000 a week.
Ferguson netted for Brighton in their weekend win over Luton Town and had the likes of Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards praising him. Lineker was even
suggesting him as a Harry Kane replacement. On Sunday, Jamie Carragher then raved about Ferguson on the Gary Neville Podcast:
"Evan Ferguson is the centre forward. You talk about Brighton bringing players into the club, through the ranks, and selling them on for big money.
"I'm sure he will be there for the next couple of years, but he looks the real deal every time I watch him. Don't forget, as a young player could you imagine the education he is getting from that manager [Roberto De Zebri]?
"He looks like a top manager doesn’t he? You see the way the team plays, not necessarily with the best players in the world. The football they play, he is a manager now where a lot of teams are studying the way Brighton play and trying to implement that into their game. He is still new to the Premier League himself.
"I think that lad he has got up front, I think he's pretty special. He is only going to get better with him as his manager."
Amid such giddy talk, Sky Sports correspondent Melissa Reddy has posted about Brighton's position on Ferguson. Having just sold Moises Caicedo for £115m, to Chelsea, the Seagulls believe they could top that figure in the coming seasons by selling on their young forward.
https://twitter.com/MelissaReddy_/status/1690841190726332416
Evan Ferguson sell-on fee for Bohemians
Heady Evan Ferguson talk, despite him having just 11 Brighton goals [from 30 appearances] and two Ireland goals [in six games].
Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United have already tracked the Ireland star although efforts to prise him away from Brighton, last season, for £25m and £30m were flat-out rejected. The club know they have a high up-side player and were never going to jump early, despite big figures being discussed.
Should the 18-year-old move on, Bohemians stand to make a big chunk of change. They have a sell-on fee for Ferguson that is reported to be between 10 and 15%.
As for Ferguson, he currently stands tied for 39th on Ireland's all-time Premier League top scorer list [seven goals]. Another six goals, in the coming weeks and months, and he would jump into the Top 20.
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