Brighton will ‘resist’ interest in Evan Ferguson from Chelsea with the Seagulls under no pressure to sell the in-demand forward.
Ferguson’s exciting emergence has alerted the division’s top teams with the 19-year-old having matched Wayne Rooney’s record for the most Premier League goals by a teenager in a calendar year (11) in 2023.
The Republic of Ireland international is viewed as one of the most promising talents in the Premier League and the Evening Standard claim Chelsea want to sign the striker.
Manchester United and Tottenham have also been linked with Ferguson, though Brighton are under no pressure to sell the forward, who is valued in excess of £100m at the Amex Stadium.
Ferguson would fit Chelsea’s recruitment profile as a young player with room to develop in West London, while the Irishman would command a significantly lower salary than reported targets including Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney.
Chelsea have brought in Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez and Moises Caicedo from the South Coast side in recent windows, in addition to appointing ex-Brighton boss Graham Potter in a record-breaking £21.5m deal.
Any move for Ferguson could eclipse the British record £115m spent to sign Caicedo in the summer, with the forward having recently signed a new long-term contract with Brighton.
Ferguson – who became just the fourth 18-year-old to score a Premier League hat-trick against Newcastle in September – has scored 16 goals in 50 appearances since his senior debut. The teenager has also scored three times in 10 caps for Ireland.
