Ornstein: High-Value Aston Villa Deal Paves Way for West Ham’s Latest Signing, Agreement Finalized.
David Ornstein claims West Ham can thank Aston Villa for securing Evan Ferguson's signing.
According to a report in The Athletic (2 February), Bayer Leverkusen had been interested in signing Brighton striker Evan Ferguson.
However, with their current forward, Victor Boniface, linked to a move to Al Nassr, the deal became more urgent.
When Al Nassr signed Jhon Duran from Aston Villa, Bayer Leverkusen no longer needed Ferguson, which created an opportunity for West Ham to swoop in.
West Ham are now in advanced negotiations to secure Ferguson’s signing, with Fabrizio Romano confirming this on 2 February.
Dharmesh Sheth also reported the striker is en route to London for his medical.
West Ham have been linked with Ferguson throughout this transfer window, and finalizing the deal will be a significant relief for manager Graham Potter, especially as other teams’ decisions have played a role.
The club has been in desperate need of attacking reinforcements, with key forwards Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio, and Niclas Fullkrug all unavailable, leaving the squad light in attack.
Ferguson, 20, has had a challenging season at Brighton, scoring just once in 13 appearances as Danny Welbeck, Joao Pedro, and Georginio Rutter were preferred options.
Nevertheless, he has previously demonstrated his potential, scoring 17 goals in 80 first-team appearances and earning 18 caps for the Republic of Ireland.
Having worked with Potter before, Ferguson will likely benefit from the familiarity of his new manager.
If Potter can bring out his best form, this move could prove to be a successful one for West Ham.
