“Incredible” £120 million star that Chelsea wants, better than Jackson and comparable to Kane.
Since Todd Boehly’s appointment in May 2022, Chelsea has maintained their reputation as a major spending powerhouse.
The American investor has given the Blues a war chest of cash to invest in up-and-coming young players in an effort to short-cut their path to success during his tenure at the club.
Even though spending more than £1 billion in three transfer windows hasn’t resulted in the necessary success, their strategy is apparently beginning to take shape as evidenced by their most recent 4-1 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur and the thrilling 4-4 tie with Manchester City.
Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer, two of Mauricio Pochettino’s summer additions who have combined for 15 goals this season, are starting to show their true potential.
In addition, the Argentine has given Raheem Sterling the confidence he needed to perform at a top level after the Englishman’s setbacks at Stamford Bridge.
Nevertheless, the Blues manager is constantly searching for additional gifted young players to expand their plenty of offensive alternatives.
Naturally, one of their objectives is Evan Ferguson of Brighton & Hove Albion, whom they had previously plundered for record-signing Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, and Robert Sanchez.
News on Evan Ferguson’s transfer to Chelsea
Football Insider claims that Chelsea are big fans of Brighton striker Ferguson, even though the gifted young player just signed a big contract that would keep him at the Amex until June 2029.
According to the source, the Blues may make advantage of their links with the Seagulls after their invasion of the club the previous year.
It’s thought that they are keeping an eye on him in order to use that insider information to close a future deal.
Among the former Brighton employees who play a significant role behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge are chief analyst Kyle Macaulay and director of global talent and transfers Paul Winstanley.
Brighton did put a £120 million price tag on his head earlier to deter potential suitors in the summer, even though they had the advantage over any other team in that aspect.
It’s improbable that the Blues will spend more than £100 million on one player for the third time in a single year given financial fair play (FFP) is breathing down their necks, but the 19-year-old has already demonstrated his extraordinary skill.
Evan Ferguson’s history of scoring goals
Ferguson was signed by Brighton in January 2021 from the Irish club Bohemians, and the striker made a name for himself in the youth ranks as a goal machine.
With a stellar record of 18 goals in 39 games for the Seagulls U23s, the Republic of Ireland international was eager for an opportunity to play for the senior team and he seized it with both hands.
Ferguson made his Premier League debut against Burnley in February 2022 after being the club’s fifth youngest-ever player when he made his debut in the Carabao Cup in August 2021. He later emerged as a major player in the 2022–2023 campaign.
The teenager’s rise, like his valuation, was swift after Robert De Zerbi dubbed him for his “incredible” impact in the first team during the previous season. Between December 2022 and January 2023, he scored three goals and provided two assists in four games, including his first Premier League goal in a 4-2 loss to Arsenal.
A season-long record of ten goals in twenty-five games for Brighton naturally attracted the attention of other major league teams, who saw the 18-year-old’s world-class abilities come to light.
Interest in Ferguson peaked after witnessing the Irishman score a stunning hat-trick against Newcastle in September, making him the most productive youngster in Europe at the time.
This is primarily due to the fact that he can score every kind of goal: towering headers, accurate low finishes, the FA Cup match against Grimsby, outpacing and bullying William Saliba before slotting beneath a heartbroken Aaron Ramsdale.
Ferguson can score any kind of goal, and despite his youth, he has shown that he is a more complete forward than most, even Jackson of Chelsea.
Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson stats
In just two games, Jackson’s season goal total increased from three to seven, thanks to a fortunate hat-trick against a nine-man Tottenham Hotspur team and a rebound goal against reigning champion Manchester City.
The 22-year-old’s confidence was on the line before those two games; he was losing out on golden opportunities and wilting under the pressure of his immature shoulders.
However, the Senegalese striker’s past goalscoring difficulties have all but vanished as he currently has a decent record of seven goals in 14 games this season.
Unlike Jackson, Ferguson has demonstrated his exceptional clinical ability when given the chance, even with his recent upturn in goal-scoring form.
Jackson has underperformed by a staggering 1.79 and is only scoring once every 142 minutes, while Ferguson is surpassing his xG by 2.29 and scoring at a pace of 118 minutes per goal.
The Irishman is remarkably calm and clinical in front of goal, despite his advanced age, earning parallels to Harry Kane, who is perhaps the best finisher on the planet.
The upcoming Kane, Harry
While scoring goals is a striker’s main asset, Ferguson’s versatility has come from learning a variety of positions during his early years, with a focus on midfield in particular.
The Irishman has been likened to Kane because of this. Like the Englishman, he has outstanding link-up play and passing vision that enable him to drop deep and influence the attack’s build-up phase.
Ferguson, who acknowledged that he models his play after the incredible marksman, emphasized the need of being at ease receiving the ball in a midfield position in an interview with Sky Sports News.
“I believe it has helped me become a more natural striker in the modern era,” he stated. The way strikers like Harry Kane drop in is evident these days. If he was a midfielder when he was younger, I wouldn’t be shocked.
“I know when to hold off on a pass or what kind of run to make. It has made me feel more whole.”
In the contemporary game, a complete striker is essential, and Ferguson’s three-figure contract represents both his genuine worth and amazing potential.
He is a 19-year-old striker who has shown physicality and technical skill well above his years, therefore Chelsea should empty their wallets and raid Brighton once more to acquire their outstanding player.
