Why Arsenal should be extremely wary of signing €100m target

Cameron Smith

• 17 Dec 2023 12:00 CST
• 3 min read

Brighton & Hove Albion star Evan Ferguson has been touted as the next big thing since his breakout under Roberto De Zerbi, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United all linked with a move since the start of 2023.

The Republic of Ireland international only turned 19 in October, but he is already attracting interest from the very biggest clubs in the Premier League.

In August, FootballTransfers reported that Arsenal are viewing Ferguson as a possible target for 2024 as they look to bolster their forward line.

The Brighton star isn’t the only player that Mikel Arteta’s side want - Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen are two alternatives - but a move to the Emirates Stadium is deemed a possibility next year.

However, Ferguson’s suitors must be extremely wary of pursuing a move in 2024 as he may not be ready for a starring role at a huge club and Brighton are highly likely to demand a fee close to the €116 million that Chelsea paid to sign Moises Caicedo this summer.

Is Ferguson ready to leave Brighton?

While there is no doubting Ferguson’s obvious talent, he is not yet the finished article and he has shared minutes at Brighton throughout his time in the first-team.

This season, Ferguson has started 12 of the Seagulls’ 24 games in all competitions, with Danny Welbeck, Joao Pedro and Ansu Fati also being used up front at times.

The fact that De Zerbi hasn’t rushed Ferguson into an immediate first-choice, undroppable role is certainly a good thing - given his age - but it also suggests that a mega move away isn’t yet the right choice.

Furthermore, Ferguson’s goal tally this season should act as a telling sign that he is perhaps not ready to lead the line for a team with Champions League ambitions.

The Irishman has scored six goals in the Premier League so far this season, which is a very respectable total, but three of those came in one game against Newcastle United and he is currently on a run of two goals in his last 17 appearances (10 starts) in all competitions.

He is unquestionably an elite talent with ability that very few strikers possess, but Ferguson hasn’t yet proven himself to be a €100m player and that fee is what Brighton will demand to sanction a sale.

In five years, Ferguson will likely be considered as one of the very best strikers in world football, but staying at Brighton for the next few years would be a wise decision.