Latest developments
- Nottingham Forest are reportedly interested in Brighton striker Evan Ferguson.
- The Irishman is said to want to leave the south coast in January.
- Leicester and Fulham are rumoured to want to take him on loan.
Whisper+ analysis
Authenticity (2/5): No sign of where source came from
Nottingham Forest are interested in a permanent deal for Brighton & Hove Albion centre-forward Evan Ferguson, amid loan interest from fellow Premier League clubs.
That is the word of footballinsider247.com, whose sources usually include renowned journalists, but on this occasion, they don't name their source or who they are connected to.
Value (2/5): High price for lack of goals
Ferguson has struggled for form throughout 2024, and has struggled for minutes since Fabian Hurzeler arrived at Brighton, scoring once in 10 appearances so far this term.
As a result, his market value has dropped from £54 million to £38 million, but even that price looks too high for a striker who has gone completely off the boil. Brighton may let him go for less, but with him under contract until 2029, they are in no hurry to move him on for peanuts.
Suitability (4/5): Forest love a big man up top
Form, though, is only temporary, and if any Premier League side can snap Ferguson out of this dry spell, it's Nottingham Forest, who like to play a target man as their focal point in attack, to get on the end of crosses from the full-backs or link up with the wide men who cut inside.
Upgrade? (2/5): Wood's place is fixed
Unfortunately for Ferguson, Forest already have one of – if not the – most in form striker in the Premier League doing that job for them right now in Chris Wood.
The New Zealander is one shy of double figures already this term, as he is keeping Taiwo Awoniyi out the team and has shot the Reds up into the European places. Ferguson may have youth on his side, but Wood looks evergreen for now.
Logic (1.5/5): Little sense for anyone
If Ferguson is in search of more game time, then he is unlikely to find it at the City Ground, where he cannot even bring Forest something they don't already have. Arguably, he would be a different string to Leicester's or Fulham's bows, so a loan deal with an option to buy might be more suitable.
Whisper+ verdict: 11.5/25
This rumour doesn't seem to have legs – there is little sense in Forest spending so much when they already have one of the best players in that position, and Ferguson won't want to simply swap the Seagulls' bench for Forest's.
