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Celtic receive official Evan Ferguson transfer verdict as talks start
Tom Weber
- Updated: 10 Jan 2026 18:07 GMT
- 5 min read
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January is bound to be an eventful month for AS Roma striker Evan Ferguson, but this is not necessarily good news for Celtic.
The Republic of Ireland international looked all but guaranteed to return to parent club Brighton just a couple of weeks ago. Ferguson's start to life at Roma was anything but auspicious, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini frequently voiced his frustration with the 21-year-old.
Brighton, having lost Stefanos Tzimas to a long-term injury, were open to welcoming Ferguson back into the fray, but it was later revealed that it is not the Seagulls' decision to make. They did not include a recall clause in his loan deal.
Current ETV
Evan Ferguson
F (C)
Roma
Evan Ferguson
F (C)
Roma
ETV Range
€21.9M - €26.8M
Instead, Roma have to decide whether or not to keep Ferguson this month. The Giallorossi were hoping to replace the striker with Man Utd forward Joshua Zirkzee, but the sacking of Ruben Amorim has now had the side effect that the Red Devils will not entertain any major exits.
The situation has also become more complicated by Ferguson actually finding his feet in the Italian capital. The young Irishman has scored four goals since mid-December.
Napoli explore Ferguson move as Roma change stance
Amid all of this, Celtic have been lurking in the background. Ferguson is a boyhood fan, and the Hoops desperately need a reliable striker, with Daizen Maeda facing an uncertain future, Kelechi Iheanacho struggling to stay fit and Jonny Kenny unable to convert his chances.
However, things can change quickly in football. While Celtic may have had some hope of landing Ferguson a few weeks ago, it now looks highly unlikely that they will be able to secure his signature.
The reasons are twofold. For one, reigning Serie A champions Napoli are now showing an interest in the youngster. Gianluca Di Marzio reports that initial talks over a potential move have already been held.
What's more, Roma are no longer as desperate to get rid of him as they were when he was still struggling to score and when they still thought they could strike a deal for Zirkzee.
Sporting director Ricky Massara has now confirmed as much. Speaking ahead of Roma's clash with Sassuolo, he candidly revealed that a move for Zirkzee is off the table and that he wants to keep Ferguson.
"At this time, United have closed all transfer discussions," Massara explained. "With the change of manager, they don't want any movement. It seems highly unlikely that they'll change their minds, but we'll see."
As for Ferguson, he added: "He's here, he's giving us a big hand, he's growing. He's a 2004-born player who arrived four months ago in a new league. His growth is constant, he's making a great contribution to us now, and we're happy with what he's doing.
"We're happy to see him on the pitch tonight. We hope to keep him for the entire season, then we'll see how we move forward."
Ferguson himself also insists that he is not giving a potential departure from Roma any thought. “It has taken some time," he admitted in an interview with SPORTbible.
"There have been ups and downs, but now I’d say I’m pretty settled. I’m in a good place physically and mentally, and know where my head’s at. I’m ready to build on what I’ve been doing so far.
“Everything’s positive at the minute,” Ferguson continued. “I think, as a team, we’re on a good run. It’s not just me. As a team, we’re in a good place, and I think we’re finding a bit of rhythm and momentum now. We’ll see where it takes us and keep on going.
“I haven't thought about [my next move]. I think it's one step at a time. You can't think about what you're going to be doing next year. I'm here at the minute, and that's it. I'm going to try and keep working as long as I'm here."
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