According to reports, Manchester United are getting ready to make a preliminary offer to Brighton for Evan Ferguson because Erik ten Hag is committed to bringing the gifted Irish striker to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have had a terrible start to the current season with just six points from their first five games, placing them in fifth place. They are nursing their wounds over what is statistically their worst season start since 1989 due to that form.
They travel to winless Burnley on Saturday night in a game that Ten Hag and Co. dare not lose after losing their last three games.
Ten Hag, however, was anticipated to have United challenging from the start of this season after spending almost £178 million this summer. However, they are already nine points behind Manchester City, and Robbie Savage told TEAM talk that this means their title aspirations are already dead.
If Ten Hag loses on Saturday night, things could get pretty bad for him. He immediately had to defend himself against rumors that he was already under pressure and that his job was in jeopardy.
To that end, earlier this week, sources stated that the Red Devils were considering ‘rising star’ Arne Slot as his replacement.
Ten Hag will continue nonetheless in the interim, hoping that his summer acquisitions start to settle in and contribute to a turn around in fortunes.
But even though the expensive new striker Rasmus Hojlund has struggled and the injured Mason Mount, Sofyan Amrabat, and Andre Onana have yet to have any form of impact, there have at least been encouraging signals.
The Dane has looked promising so far, scoring his first goal in the 4-3 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League and also coming close to a goal on his home debut last weekend against Brighton.
Ten Hag determined to bring Evan Ferguson to Man Utd
However, at just 20 years of age, Hojlund cannot do it all on his own. And in the wake of a lack of options to play at centre forward, United are seemingly ready to dip their toes back into the transfer market once again in January.
To that end, their reported interest in Brighton hotshot Ferguson is nothing new.
They have been on the Irishman’s trail for the best part of 12 months, with their desire to sign him ramping up in recent weeks.
Indeed, Ferguson has started the new season in blistering form, scoring four times in five Premier League appearances so far.
Today, United is prepared to test the waters with a firm £50 million bid for his services, according to reports in Spain, ahead of the January window, which officially starts in just 100 days.
Ten Hag is said to believe that the youngster, who is still only 18 years old, will prove to be a wise investment in the future and a regular fixture at the top of the Premier League scoring statistics.
In addition, the Dutchman allegedly believes that United’s second-half surge could be aided by his January acquisition.
Brighton won’t begrudge lowly by Ferguson offer
The Seagulls, however, are highly unlikely to entertain such offers, particularly midway through a season of their own that promises so much. They took a similar stance last January over Arsenal’s pursuit with Moises Caicedo, whom they rejected a £70m bid for, before ultimately selling the Ecuadorian for £115m to Chelsea
As such, as keen as United are on Ferguson, even a firm opening offer for such an amount will likely be rejected out of hand by the Seagulls.
And United may ultimately have to spend double that opening figure if they are to prise him away.
Ferguson is contracted to Brighton until 2028, and has 14 goals in 34 appearances since being thrust into the first-team limelight at the AMEX.
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