Former Manchester United midfielder/forward, Alan Smith, believes that both Newcastle United and Manchester United would consider signing Evan Ferguson in the near future.
Ferguson's stock in English football appears to be growing at an alarming rate after his debut Premier League season, and the Bettystown native has picked up where he left off last season.
A goal on the opening day of the season against Luton was bettered by his first Premier League hat-trick against Newcastle in September.
The 18-year-old Irish superstar became the fourth 18-year-old in Premier League history to score a Premier League hat-trick, following in the footsteps of Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler, and Chris Bart-Williams.
Numerous players have praised the young Irish forward for his displays. Some have even drawn comparisons to Harry Kane, while others believe that Premier League legend Alan Shearer is a more fitting comparison.
Smith has become the latest ex-pro to give his take on a potential move and admits that it will ultimately come down to the player's decision
Ta' Qal , Malta - 20 November 2022; Evan Ferguson of Republic of Ireland,. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)"I'd imagine Man United and Newcastle would consider Ferguson. However, it's up to the player and whether or not he wants to leave Brighton. This is a club with Champions League ambitions and beyond!" Smith said.
"Roberto De Zerbi has made it clear that any players who want to leave Brighton can do so - just look at what happened with Caicedo. Brighton now feels like they can compete with clubs like Chelsea. I'd imagine Ferguson is enjoying life at Brighton now - he's playing regularly, performing well, and scoring goals."
"There's always the temptation to move to 'bigger' clubs, and that's something he may well want to do in the future.
Despite this, it’s a matter of when not if for Ferguson to leave, added Smith.
"However, it appears that Ferguson is currently enjoying his time at Brighton. At only 18, he's still learning his responsibilities,"he added.
"I'm certain he's on the radar of plenty of top clubs right now. Big clubs always want talented young players. Brighton will undoubtedly want to keep hold of him, and it's a fantastic club for his development."
Smith was speaking to BoyleSports, who provide the latest Premier League odds.
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