Manchester United, who have been plagued by a lack of frontline disruption and a poor goal-scoring record, are looking to bolster their forward line. The Red Devils have reportedly rekindled their interest in Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson (19-Ireland), especially after he recently signed a new long-term contract, and are reportedly pushing for a move despite his price tag having risen to “astronomical levels”. 캡틴토토
“United are very interested in Ferguson,” the British publication Football Insider reported on Friday (April 15), adding, “Despite Ferguson signing a new long-term contract with Brighton last week until 2029, United are not giving up on him and will continue to monitor his progress with a view to bringing him in the near future. “We’ll be looking to sign him as soon as his potential is in full bloom and he develops further,” a source told us exclusively.
The Red Devils prioritized striker reinforcements last summer, as they struggled to find the back of the net last season, finishing seventh in the English Premier League (EPL) in goals scored (58). They were linked with a number of options throughout the transfer window, but ultimately landed the ‘Danish Bomber’ Rasmus Hojlund (20-Denmark). In the process, the club spent a staggering £72 million ($117 billion) on the player, raising considerable expectations.
However, the Red Devils have yet to see the full impact of their signing. In fact, in nine appearances since the EPL kicked off this season, Hoyle has yet to find the back of the net. Naturally, United’s inability to solve the “void” problem has been frustrating, as they have scored just 13 goals through the 12th round of the EPL, barely over a goal per game. This has led to criticism from some quarters, including ‘failed signings’ and ‘overpayments’.
The club is not only suffering from the silence of Hoyle, but also other strikers such as Marcus Rashford (26-England), who was once dubbed the “boy wonder,” and Anthony Martial (27-France), who was once dubbed the “second Henri,” as they have fallen into a long slump. In response, United have rekindled their interest in Ferguson, who has been on their radar since last year, as they look to add a new frontline striker.
Ferguson is an ‘up-and-coming’ striker from Ireland. He joined Brighton in January 2021 and has been on a steep learning curve since last season, when he began to fully realize his potential. He has been given plenty of opportunities, especially under new manager Roberto De Zervi (44-Italy), who took over in September last year, with a policy of utilizing young, talented players.
In fact, Ferguson played 24 games (14 starts) across all competitions last season. He didn’t just get more playing time, he also scored 10 goals and provided three assists, putting him over double-digit attacking points. He made his presence felt with goals and assists against big teams like Liverpool and Arsenal. This season, he has continued to be the go-to guy, scoring five goals in 14 official appearances (seven starts).
His performances have earned Ferguson praise from De Gea, who says he will be “one of the best strikers in the EPL” and last week extended his contract until June 2029. As part of the deal, he received an increase in salary and bonuses for his performances. In addition, Brighton have set a minimum price tag of £100 million ($163 million) for Ferguson. Anything less would be rejected, the club said.