Ten Hag in transfer boost as Man Utd prepare to make amends after '£50m mistake'

14 September 2023 , 15:31

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Ten Hag in transfer boost as Man Utd prepare to make amends after '£50m mistake'

Erik ten Hag should get the opportunity to personally run the rule over Evan Ferguson this weekend, with the Brighton striker expected to be fit to face Manchester United.

Ferguson, 18, has quickly established himself as one of the Premier League's most exciting prospects and bagged his first senior hat-trick in the Seagulls' 3-1 win over Newcastle prior to the international break.

The teenage striking prodigy has been a fitness doubt leading up to the trip to Old Trafford and missed Ireland's European qualifying games during the international break due to a knee issue. However, it is understood that Brighton are optimistic that Ferguson will be available to feature against United on Saturday.

That means Ten Hag will be able to get a first-hand view of Ferguson amid reports from The Manchester Evening News that United already have plans to try and prise the Irishman away from the Amex next summer.

Ferguson spent time trialling with Manchester United as a youngster but still ended up signing for Brighton. The Red Devils would now have to pay a premium price to bring Ferguson to the club, with former academy director Nick Cox recently admitting that missing out on the youngster was a "£50m-plus mistake".

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Since signing with Brighton at the age of 16, Ferguson has flourished and enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last term, where he netted 10 goals in just 14 starts. He was rewarded with a bumper new contract which runs until 2028 this summer.

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Manchester United are expected to try and sign Ferguson next summer (Getty Images)

Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi has already waxed lyrical about Ferguson, declaring that the youngster will go on to become "one of the best strikers in the Premier League".

Manchester United spent £72m to bring striker Rasmus Hojlund to Old Trafford from Atalanta, but Ferguson is still of interest as Ten Hag would like to bring another No.9 to the club in the future.

While United may have aspirations of luring Ferguson to Manchester, there are no guarantees that Brighton will do business. Seagulls CEO Paul Barber suggested last month that it could be "five years" before the club would considering selling their new star striker.

Ferguson has already chalked up four goals in four league appearances for Brighton this term; two shy of the tally he amassed in total during the entire 2022/23 campaign.

Dan Marsh