Mizgan Masani
Brighton CEO Paul Barber thinks it would be few years before Manchester United target Evan Ferguson is sold
Brighton and Hove Albion CEO Paul Barber has revealed that the Seagulls are in no hurry to sell Manchester United target, Evan Ferguson.
Barber, in fact, thinks that it might be at least five years before the technical staff think about moving the 18-year-old on.
It was very early in the summer when Sky Sports revealed that Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have Ferguson as their top target for the 2024 summer window. Erik ten Hag sees him as a future star.
But, Barber and Brighton have their own plans. Here’s what the Seagulls’ CEO said regarding this potential transfer anytime soon (h/t talkSport, via Manchester Evening News):
“In Evan’s case, it’ll be in at least five years’ time. Ultimately the technical staff are making the key decisions on where a player is in his development, whether he needs more first team games or needs to go on loan or if we need to trade earlier or later.
“Ultimately it’s going to be a collective decision but it’s driven by the technical staff and we’re relying on them to make those judgements regarding the players’ development.”
We know Brighton are probably the best in the business when it comes to buying young talents and selling them at whopping profits. Chelsea had to break the British transfer record to sign Moises Caicedo is an indication of that.
Coming back to Ferguson, he was signed by the Seagulls in January 2021 as a youth player. He made his senior debut at the end of the 2021/22 season at the Amex but started getting more game time and prominence last season.
The 18-year-old played 1344 minutes in the 2022/23 campaign, scoring 10 goals and assisting three. He is someone who can either play as a number nine or drop deep between the lines as a support striker.
For a young player who does not seem quick, Ferguson has a sharp turn of pace and he is physically very strong.
More Manchester United News
- West Ham United looking for alternate targets move for Harry Maguire continues to stall
- Everton demand £50m for highly-sought-after Manchester United target Amadou Onana
- Manchester United unable meet Bayern Munich’s demands for Benjamin Pavard
All in all, we can see why ten Hag admires him. It remains to be seen how the striker does this season and then we can reserve some judgement at the start of the next summer transfer window before a potential move made by United.
