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Brighton Tease As West Ham Ready Their Plan B Signing

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Brighton held the aces as far as West Ham’s original ‘preferred’ loan signing this winter window. Evan Ferguson, out of the Hammers’ reach on a purchase deal (with the Seagulls’ claimed £100 million price tag), was top of the Irons’ list for a short- term loan signing to bolster the striker options at the club for the second half of the season. With no Michail Antonio, Ferguson represented the next best thing available.

Whilst he’s not fit enough to start for Brighton at the weekend, a loan would have give him the chance to re-build match fitness as he’d get guaranteed game time at London Stadium: Unlike at The Amex where he’s third choice and can’t get minutes on the pitch.

Brighton boss Fabien Hurzeler today recognised the predicament which Ferguson was in, speaking to Sussexexpress.co.uk ahead of the weekend Premier League fixtures:

“We see his potential, but it is also important that he gets enough game time to develop and to improve.“..And as far as a loan option? Hurzeler again :

“It’s always a decision we make together. So, We want to hear his opinion, his thoughts. We want to hear also his needs, his wishes and then it is also the club’s side.”

So, much will depend upon their player’s attitude. He’s only managed two starts this season at The Amex which cannot be good for one with a hit-and-miss injury record who desperately needs time on the pitch to build up fitness.

Brighton were earlier on the record as being prepared to make West Ham wait until the very end of the window before deciding on Ferguson’s future. 11 days to go and still West Ham are no nearer a decision. There is a sneaking suspicion that Brighton were just playing the game to frustrate West Ham along with Everton, Chelsea, Manchester United, Juventus and Tottenham all of whom have been linked with the 21 year old target man.

The emergence of strikers Andre Silva and Brian Brobbey this afternoon as being ‘contingency’ names on the shortlist may well signal that West Ham’s patience is at an end and confirmation that the Hammers are making a move in a different direction to at least safeguard one signing: It will reassure fans that come the end of the window there WILL be a new front man in the squad.

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From the old Bobby Moore Upper to the Billy Bonds' stand these days I've been watching since '03 and a supporter since about 1970.. 'Football is Life' oh yes. Let it raise your spirit but never darken your mood. Life's too short not to enjoy the journey with our Claret and Blue heroes n' villains.

6 comments

  • Hammerdale says:

    Whoever we sign it will be a disaster.. It always is.
    A shambles of a club

  • Not A Circus F.C. says:

    Sullivan is a disease of our great club

    • Essexiron42 says:

      Martin – Are we really backing our new manager’s ambition if this is the best top 3 targets we can hope for? Ferguson is a good player but only 2 starts this season and fighting to recover from injury to build his fitness does not bode well, especially with the other clubs who are said to be interested. As for Silva really poor number of goals scored in the last 2 seasons.

      Ironically 2 years ago in the January 2023 window Nottingham Forest signed Chris Wood on loan from Newcastle and were fighting relegation. Now they are in 3rd place, 18 points ahead of us with a real chance of qualifying for Champions League. To top it all Chris Wood has been outstanding, scoring 14 goals plus 2 assists in 22 games at the age of 33, and today signed a 2 year contract extension. Forest are flying along with Bournemouth, Villa, Brighton and Fulham.

      The club must back Graham with significant transfer funds and let him get on with the job with no interference if we are to match their success. There are definitely positive signs but this has to continue starting with this transfer window.

  • John Ayris says:

    The last thing we need is another sick note striker.

  • Ray says:

    “Ferguson represented the next best thing available.” Only to any idiot that is not paying attention and doesn’t care about doing their job properly.

  • Bill Ryan says:

    Silva seems a bad fit for us whereas brobbey seems more akin to potters young ideal type of player, if Sullivan signs this off were back to the bad old days of players injured past their best by date no sell on value and utterly unfit for purpose of this football club and shows Sullivan has no ambition

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