West Ham fans are understandably more than a little miffed with the club’s botched attempts to sign Jhon Duran in the summer.
Having almost completed the signing of Europe’s hottest young striker for £36m (ish), the Hammers decided to walk away from the deal, and the rest is history.
Fast forward to the current state of play in the winter transfer window, and there is still some residual concern that West Ham could repeat the same mistake.
This is surely why I’ve been reading comments like “pay whatever it takes” and “Just pay Brighton’s asking price, Sully” when discussing Evan Ferguson.
Of course, it’s one of football’s worst-kept secrets that Hove Albion’s young Irish striker is available for the right price, and it appears the Hammers are haggling again. I, for one, don’t blame them.
Graham Potter does not have a limitless transfer fund, and I’m quite certain that any purchase would come out of next season’s war chest. Most would concede that West Ham will need at least a goalkeeper, midfielder, centre-back, and a wing-back in the summer.
Hammers made a hash of the Duran deal
Keep your powder dry
And while a striker is crucial to the Hammers and Potter’s rebuild, we must be absolutely certain we’re buying the right player. For this reason, calls for the club to “pay whatever it takes” to land Ferguson should be treated with caution—just like the transfer itself.
As talented as Ferguson may be, he is currently out with a mysterious foot injury, which Seagulls manager Fabian Hürzeler admitted earlier this month was difficult to diagnose.
It’s not the first time Ferguson has struggled with injury either, and at 20 years of age, this is something of a concern. Therefore, I believe the Hammers are absolutely correct to try and get the forward on loan rather than panicking with FOMO upon hearing stories that the likes of Arsenal are keen to buy the player.
I’m quite sure that if the Gooners were serious about Ferguson, they’d have bought him by now. I just can’t see the North Londoners investing big money on a player who has scored 14 senior goals.
If there were concerns about Brian Brobbey’s injury record and lack of goals this season, then surely the same must apply to the more expensive Ferguson. I can’t help but think this forward FOMO is driven by missing out on Duran.
However, if West Ham spend big on a striker and, by early February, we’re looking at the new fella in the physio’s room with Niclas Füllkrug and Michail Antonio, there will be demands to know why the board always buy injury-prone players.
Ferguson may well be an excellent footballer, but the Hammers would be bonkers to commit £50m for a player with uncertain fitness. Yes, West Ham need a striker, and we can all argue about the various qualities they require—be it pace, technique, hold-up play, or versatility.
But surely fitness must be at the very top of the list, or we could find ourselves dipping into the market again this summer
We are becoming a complete joke of a club, we bring in a top manager, and we are playing around like a third division club! Graham knows Ewan, he’s a talented player, foot injury, a Medical,would resolve, not speculating it May be Serious!
Time we had a New Owner! Sell Up! Let us have OUR CLUB BACK!
It looks like Sullivan edges his way towards the closure of the window with no signings one excuse after another suits him fine Look we need a c forward and a central midfielder Would and should have been sorted by now NO AMBITION NO FORESIGHT SHAME
Potter Knows Ferguson and how he plays, and Ewan understands what Graham wants and needs from him! What is the problem with Sullivan when it comes to signings? We have just days left, and before the window closes, we do not need old players!
While all the headlines are about Ferguson, Brobbey and Silva from other reports Al Nassr have supposedly agreed £43m plus 7m in add ons for Boniface from Leverkusen and £63m plus £7m in add ons for Duran
Why aren’t we doing that deal for Boniface who we know plenty about and would be perfect.
Agree mate, certainly looks like we are too late for Boniface, Saudi side Al-Nassr reported to have agreed personal terms and passed medical for fee of €60 million ( £50.3 million). This would leave Bayern Leverkusen in pole position to sign Ferguson. Boniface would have been a great signing after scoring 29 goals and 11 assists in 49 games.
I actually agree we make the mistake time and again buying injury prone players . A loan with no obligation reduces the risk . On another note we need a box to box midfielder so what happened to Banzuzi ?