Evan Ferguson: Chelsea's transfer prospects for Brighton teen rated

Robin Bairner

• 31 Mar 2023 16:03 BST
• 4 min read

Brighton striker Evan Ferguson has been making football transfer news headlines in recent weeks thanks to his spectacular performances for club and country.

The 18-year-old Ireland international notched his first goal for the Boys in Green against Latvia in the international break and gave a good account of himself against France to backup his displays for the Seagulls in the Premier League.

Hyped as Ireland’s answer to Harry Kane, Manchester United have been associated with a possible summer move for the teenager as they aim to muscle up their attacking line.

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Ferguson, though, is a player who is appealing to all of the Premier League’s leading clubs, but which is he most suited to?

FootballTransfers teamed up with data analytics experts SciSports to find the answer.

Using its club compatibility tool, SciSports looked at the Premier League’s traditional ‘Big 6’ and came up with a clear winner.

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Ranking Evan Ferguson’s Premier League transfer options

5= Tottenham Hotspur

There’s nothing about Spurs that really suits Ferguson at present. Although there is scope for tremendous development in his game, he could get this at any other leading Premier League club. In terms of playing style and formation, the London club don’t suit – although it is worth pointing out that their next manager could be more favourable to him. Furthermore, with Harry Kane their only out-and-out striker, he could get some game time here.

5= Liverpool

Like Tottenham, there is little appealing to Liverpool for Ferguson at present. Their style and formation do not suit him. Indeed, with Jurgen Klopp installed long term at Anfield, they are arguably worse placed than Spurs, where there is more prospect of a stylistic change.

3= Man City

Manchester City’s playing style more closely mirrors the Brighton side at which Ferguson has had some success than either Spurs or Liverpool. For that reason, SciSports believes he has a greater chance of being a hit at the Etihad than either of the aforementioned clubs.

3= Man Utd

The club most closely linked with Ferguson is considered to be a promising fit. Erik ten Hag’s style is a close match to that of Brighton, which would be to Ferguson’s benefit.

2. Arsenal

Arsenal are considered to be marginally more suitable to the Irishman than Man Utd – but only by the smallest of margins. Again, Mikel Arteta’s playing style closely mirrors that of Brighton, which would help him assimilate.

1. Chelsea

Perhaps it should come as no surprise that Ferguson would be best suited to going to a Graham Potter side when he eventually makes the step up. Chelsea play in a similar manner to Brighton and their formation most closely matches that of Brighton. Ferguson has played both as a lone striker and as part of a front two, which most closely matches the Blues' style. He would feel most at home at Stamford Bridge in comparison to the other Premier League big guns.

What was universal in the study, though, was that Ferguson would have to fight for playing time at all of these clubs and might be better served spending another season or two at Brighton – which is exactly what Roberto De Zerbi’s side want.