20 November 2023 , 15:58
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Manchester United have learned that Brighton striker Evan Ferguson doesn't have a release clause in his new long-term contract.
Ferguson, 19, signed an improved five-year deal with Brighton earlier this month, having emerged as one of the Premier League's brightest prospects since his top-flight debut in February 2022. Clubs often insert eye-watering release clauses into their best young players' contracts but the Seagulls opted against doing so in the case of Ferguson, leaving United in the dark regarding his true valuation.
This allows Brighton to demand as much as they want for Ferguson, whose five league goals this season have only seen his stock rise. The Republic of Ireland international was tipped to join United during the summer transfer window before the Red Devils splurged £72million on highly-rated Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund, who himself is only 20.
Should United rekindle their interest in Ferguson, Brighton will undoubtedly drive a hard bargain, as demonstrated by the lucrative sales of ex-Seagulls stars Moises Caicedo, Ben White, Marc Cucurella and Alexis Mac Allister. The Athletic report that isn't a set figure which Brighton chiefs would have to accept should a club come in for their 19-year-old hotshot.
Arsenal and Liverpool are among the sides who've also been linked with a big-money move for Ferguson, whose grand-uncle Damien notably played for the Red Devils in the 1970s. "I supported United as a boy," the Irish starlet revealed to the Daily Mail. "You had the [Wayne] Rooneys, the [Dimitar] Berbatovs and obviously [Brighton team-mate] Danny Welbeck. They've always had a good thing going with the striker."
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Get involved! Should Manchester United attempt to sign Evan Ferguson? Let us know your stance in the comments section.
Evan Ferguson doesn't have a release clause in his Brighton contract (Alex Broadway/Getty Images)Ferguson, who recently became the first teenager since Rooney in 2005 to score at least 10 Premier League goals in a calendar year, has even been tipped to complete a "dream" move to United or Liverpool by ex-Ireland defender Richard Dunne. Speaking to BoyleSports, Dunne explained: "I'm sure Evan Ferguson would be delighted at the thought of playing for Liverpool and Manchester United as most Irish boys would dream of that.
"I think it'll happen for him in the future, but he's still learning his trade at the moment at Brighton. He's in for some games, rested for others, and is still developing as a player. I'm sure Brighton will help him move on when he feels the time is right.
"He'll have the pick of all the top clubs when he does. You rarely get young players as versatile as him. I think it's too soon for him at the moment, but it won’t be long before it's time to move on."