Manchester United plot £50 million move for Premier League star linked with Chelsea - Reports
Manchester United are reportedly contempating a £50 million move for Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson, a Chelsea target. The 19-year-old has impressed for the Seagulls.
Since his first-team debut in the 2021-22 season after coming up through the ranks, Ferguson has contributed 16 goals and five assists in 65 games across competitions.
The Irishman has scored six times in the Premier League in the last two seasons. Despite being contracted to Brighton till 2029, he has been linked with some of the top clubs in the country.
As per The Daily Star (via Metro), Chelsea have been interested in his services for a while, but the Red Devils have entered the fray. Erik ten Hag's side. Brighton, though, are unlikely to sell Ferguson for below £50 million.
The club's chief executive Paul Barber told talkSPORT in January about Ferguson, hinting that the teenager's future could lie elsewhere:
"Someone like Evan, who is an incredible talent, he’s still got a way to go to learn his trade.
"Letting him go at some point in the future is going to be I’m sure part of the overall plan, both from our side and Evan’s side. But in the short term, we want to try and make sure we develop him the best we can."
The Blues have been very active this summer, spending nearly £250 million (as per BBC), while the Red Devils have signed defender Leny Yoro and striker Joshua Zirkzee.
What's next for Manchester United and Chelsea?
Manchester United commenced their 2024-25 campaign with a 7-6 shootout loss to Manchester City in the FA Community Shield on Saturday (August 10) at the Wembley in London.
Alejandro Garnacho's 82nd-minute opener was cancelled out by Bernardo Silva's 89th-minute equaliser before City fought back from a 3-1 shootout deficit to win 7-6, with Jadon Sancho and Jonny Evans missing for United.
The win helped Pep Guardiola's side snap a three-game losing run in the competition as they didn't join United as the only sides to lose four straight FA Community Shields.
The Red Devils will now focus on the Premier League, where they get their campaign underway at home to Fulham on Friday (August 16). Meanwhile, the Blues commence their campaign at home to four-time defending champions City two days later.
Both sides finished outside the top-four last season. While the Blues won their last five games to finish sixth, Manchester United endured their lowest-ever Premier League finish of eighth.