Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - January 3, 2023. Brighton & Hove Albion's Evan Ferguson celebrates scoring.
Chelsea are ‘definitely’ interested in signing Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.
The Lowdown: Chelsea need a striker
Chelsea will no doubt need to sign a new striker in the summer transfer window, with it recently being reported that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has ‘mentally’ already left Stamford Bridge amid limited game time in recent weeks.
Kai Havertz has started 17 games at centre-forward this season, but he has only managed to score five goals, while the Blues’ other option in attack, David Datro Fofana, is only 20-years-old, with very little first-team experience.
The Latest: Ferguson eyed
According to O’Rourke, Chelsea have existing links with Ferguson due to both Graham Potter and sporting director Paul Winstanley knowing him well from their time together at Brighton & Hove Albion.
The journalist told GiveMeSport: “It’ll definitely increase Chelsea’s interest in Evan Ferguson.
“They will know all about him from having worked with him at Brighton, then having recruited him when they signed him from Irish side Bohemian just last summer. But yeah, Ferguson has been a breakout performer for Brighton this season.
“There wasn’t much known about him before he got into the side just after the World Cup break, but he’s really impressed.”
The Verdict: Get it done?
Lauded as a ‘complete’ striker by football scout Jacek Kulig, the 18-year-old has forced his way into the Brighton team since the back end of 2022, scoring three goals and bagging two assists in the Premier League.
Given his age, that is a fantastic return for the starlet, who is also being eyed by Spurs, and it indicates that he could go on to be a top player, so it would make perfect sense for the Blues to target a summer move.
However, as Ferguson is still inexperienced, it is important that Potter also looks to bring in a proven top-level striker in the summer, with Goncalo Ramos being linked in recent days, after scoring 19 goals in 32 games for Benfica this season.
Lautaro Martinez is also an option, having netted 13 Serie A goals this term, and he could go some way to alleviating the Blues’ very poor record in front of goal.
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