Is this actually true?
Evan Ferguson - Top Irish Prospect
- Thread starter Pogue Mahone
- Start date
I’d agree here, him signing a new deal at Brighton doesn’t help us either!
Yeah I’ve heard that rumour too. I’m not saying it was the right amount, but most clubs in world football by now know we are often desperate and have more money than sense at United.
Personally I’d rather spend big on a Ferguson/Hojlund than a Casemiro or Zlatan for example.
It’s paper talk you never gonna get confirmation one way or another but it was widely reported by late June/early July that they wanted €50m base with add-ons taking the whole package to €70m so there’s some credence to that story.
I’m not following this, so because we’ve had our pants pulled down repeatedly and developed a reputation for overpaying, that means we should keep overpaying in the future?
From an Athletic piece from December 2023
"Atalanta had told Hojlund he could leave for £50m, and United communicated they would draw the line at £60m, but then agreed a fee worth £72m during all-day talks in Bergamo that lasted until 3am. Atalanta had demanded £86m for a player they signed for less than £15m just 11 months earlier."
That needs pinning up in the office whoever now does the negotiating to show how not to negotiate.
The same article also states Murtough walked in knowing we had a ceiling price set for Mount at £42m, and that we had a good chance given his contract situation and how he was set on leaving.
He left paying £55+5m.
Sorry, seperate points that kinda crossed over.
To be clear, I don’t think we get Ferguson for £40/50m because young talent doesn’t come cheap. Just last season he was quoted at twice that.
I also think the ‘United tax’ will make players more expensive for us, as will the perception of being owned by the UKs richest man.
I admire Sir Jim’s notion of not overpaying for players but given the last 11 years he will struggle to break that preconception without missing out on big talents.
Ferguson was playing when those prices were quoted, now he can barely get a start. Brighton might have to wind their necks in a bit.
I doubt they are desperate to sell him to be quite honest. With that contract extension he signed any interested party will have to pay Brighton’s price to get the player.
Probably, which shows we never think to contact agents and see if they are interested before they go and sign long contract extensions, therefore screwing ourselves over.
Out for the rest of the season.
First major injury against Liverpool, after an absolute disgrace of a challenge by Fabinho and breaks down against those same twats again. FFS.
First major injury against Liverpool, after an absolute disgrace of a challenge by Fabinho and breaks down against those same twats again. FFS.
Showing real signs of a consistent injury record, surely our scouts have seen this and we can get him in ASAP?
Him and Olise with their injury problems would fit right in.
With our track record of turning players who never get injured into total crocks there’s also a chance that signing for United makes him unbreakable.
Strange season for him. Full of promise last season, £100m transfer fee plastered on him, and he's been injured for what feels like 75% of the season.
He's not been good when he's played, too many people jump to a high price conclusion.
He could become good, but he's not shown anything amazing.
League of Ireland clogger
Wouldn't take too much stock in this season. Was clearly playing through injury and had a great start before his production cratered dramatically. Lets just see how he gets on when back to full fitness before rushing to judgment on a guy who was doing things at 17/18 that only a small amount of elite players have ever accomplished.
What was he doing?
It just shows that it’s really difficult to judge talent based on a single season. Yes there are absolute world beaters who you know can pretty much only go to the top, but they are the exception not the rule. This season Ferguson has looked gash when he has played and been injured most of the season anyway. Anyone paying 100m for him last summer would’ve been sorely tying that decision right about now.
All that said. Just like you can’t rush to judgement based on one good breakout season, you can’t do the same based on one poor one that was mainly injury ravaged. He didn’t become crap overnight. Just experiencing fitness issues and maybe second season syndrome. He’s a bit of a “wait and see” profile of player right now. He’s shown enough for someone to take a punt on him at 40-50m plus addons, but I am sure Brighton see more upside than that and are under no pressure to sell. Likewise I highly doubt anyone is confident enough in his probability of being an elite striker, just yet, to part with 80-100m.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes roaring back and fulfills the huge potential he showed last season. But I also wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up becoming just fairly good, rather than great. Like a lot of people, I need to see more before I can make up my mind. A lot of assessing whether a player will become elite, is in being able to assess how they will adapt to changing and more challenging circumstances. For example, once oppositions have figured out how they play, are they able to adapt and add variety to their game, or take their current skills to a higher level? You can often only see that by watching them play for 2-3 years, because very few players come through with that wide skill set range or game intelligence that such adaptation requires. They have to develop it. For every Rooney, there are five Fergusons, of which only 1 or 2 will develop as promised.
Age is also a huge factor. He’s just 19. Had his breakthrough year at 18. At 19 Shearer was playing 10 games in a season for Southampton. At 20, scoring 3 goals in 26 appearances, at 21 scoring 4 in 36, and it was only at 22, with 13 goals in 41 games that he really hit the big time and was called up for England that season. Likewise, Harry Kane was going on loans to the championship until he was 22. Shearer actually scored a couple of hat tricks in his breakthrough season at 17/18 years old, but for the next three seasons took a massive step back. We just expect so much, far too much, from players at an early age these days. Especially if they have a little bit of initial success. Ferguson might not come good for another 3 years, and to do that he’ll need games and patience. The latter is in short supply in this day and age.
Unless a player is a Rooney, Messi, Ronaldo or Neymar level of talent, it’s madness to spend such huge sums on players so young. One expects instant impact and success, and if we put that on every player, we’d have likely have robbed ourselves of two of England’s best ever strikers - just as one example. One of our best ever players, Paul Scholes, didn’t become a first team regular - as in playing nearly every game - until he was 22. That time between 17 and 23 is such a crucial period for player development, and too often now we rob players of that by putting ridiculous expectations on them too early, or writing them off way before it is time. I hope we don’t do that to Mainoo when he hits the inevitable rough patch.
All that said. Just like you can’t rush to judgement based on one good breakout season, you can’t do the same based on one poor one that was mainly injury ravaged. He didn’t become crap overnight. Just experiencing fitness issues and maybe second season syndrome. He’s a bit of a “wait and see” profile of player right now. He’s shown enough for someone to take a punt on him at 40-50m plus addons, but I am sure Brighton see more upside than that and are under no pressure to sell. Likewise I highly doubt anyone is confident enough in his probability of being an elite striker, just yet, to part with 80-100m.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes roaring back and fulfills the huge potential he showed last season. But I also wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up becoming just fairly good, rather than great. Like a lot of people, I need to see more before I can make up my mind. A lot of assessing whether a player will become elite, is in being able to assess how they will adapt to changing and more challenging circumstances. For example, once oppositions have figured out how they play, are they able to adapt and add variety to their game, or take their current skills to a higher level? You can often only see that by watching them play for 2-3 years, because very few players come through with that wide skill set range or game intelligence that such adaptation requires. They have to develop it. For every Rooney, there are five Fergusons, of which only 1 or 2 will develop as promised.
Age is also a huge factor. He’s just 19. Had his breakthrough year at 18. At 19 Shearer was playing 10 games in a season for Southampton. At 20, scoring 3 goals in 26 appearances, at 21 scoring 4 in 36, and it was only at 22, with 13 goals in 41 games that he really hit the big time and was called up for England that season. Likewise, Harry Kane was going on loans to the championship until he was 22. Shearer actually scored a couple of hat tricks in his breakthrough season at 17/18 years old, but for the next three seasons took a massive step back. We just expect so much, far too much, from players at an early age these days. Especially if they have a little bit of initial success. Ferguson might not come good for another 3 years, and to do that he’ll need games and patience. The latter is in short supply in this day and age.
Unless a player is a Rooney, Messi, Ronaldo or Neymar level of talent, it’s madness to spend such huge sums on players so young. One expects instant impact and success, and if we put that on every player, we’d have likely have robbed ourselves of two of England’s best ever strikers - just as one example. One of our best ever players, Paul Scholes, didn’t become a first team regular - as in playing nearly every game - until he was 22. That time between 17 and 23 is such a crucial period for player development, and too often now we rob players of that by putting ridiculous expectations on them too early, or writing them off way before it is time. I hope we don’t do that to Mainoo when he hits the inevitable rough patch.
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Well I hear this type of thing all the time, that X player is playing while injured and nearly always this has nothing to back it up, just he was injured once and is playing poorly, therefore playing while injured.
Also he's not done anything special, this talent people talk about seems to come and go from players often.
He's physically developed early, some players do that, they always get hyped. We had a midfielder who was similar, and he didn't last long with us, I think he played in the championship (I know that's feck all to go on, was during SAF, white dude).
He might be good, he might be average, he's young and has a lot to prove.
He was the first teenager since Wayne Rooney to score ten premier league goals in a calendar year. I think that's quite an achievement given the calibre of players that are in the league. It isn't normal at all what he's achieved in his first two seasons at 17 and 18. Had six goals chalked up pretty early this season and it looked like he would cruise to double digits but something has clearly happened for his form to drop off so dramatically and the obvious thing is the injury that has ended his season early. Hopefully, its a temporary blip but its in the lap of the gods really.
I saw some links on Swedish media about a possible £50m offer but not sure where they came from. Any rumpurs about him?
I thought fir sure he was going to be a player all the big 6 were after this summer.
I thought fir sure he was going to be a player all the big 6 were after this summer.
Signed a new contract last season and went off the boil a little. Lets see how he does this coming season
Yes, the article said as much but I also a statement made from Broghtons CEO said it doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll stay this summer.
I liked him a lot in the beginning pof last season. Got a babylast fal so my didn’t have any time to watch anything bar United.
How was his season?
Scored 6 goals in 27 matches but was injured and benched a bit. Still he’s only 19 so somewhat expected
The phrase 'got a baby...' worries me a little!
Haha, I was mostly watching. Men are pointless the first six months.
We offered £50m for him before we signed Hojlund. Not sure we would entertain a big offer now given he’s had some issues and we’ve signed Zirkzee.
Get in Murtough and Arnold. They were probably able to spend 100m on a formerly retired free transfer
In my opinion the EPL clubs give regular first team football to kids far too early. 18-19 years old has yet to mature physically, mentally and in terms of football maturity.
I don't know if Ferguson would end up becoming the next big thing. What I do know is players at his age can be quite inconsistent.
I don't know if Ferguson would end up becoming the next big thing. What I do know is players at his age can be quite inconsistent.
I'd take him at arsenal. The squad needs a selfish goal scorer, and I think 50m sounds like a good deal/investment for someone like ferguson. I mean, worst case scenario is he doesn't live up to the hype but the club can still sell him for 30-40 in 3 years.
I haven't seen one link to him at all so it's just me wishcasting
I haven't seen one link to him at all so it's just me wishcasting
Brighton know he's worth more than that. They'd reject 50m without hesitation.
We could always sweeten the deal with a Scotty part ex
He should try his luck in Scotland. See if he can build up his confidence there and then maybe come back and have another crack at the Premier League when he's older.