Teenage wonderkid to snub huge transfer to Man Utd or Chelsea after fears over lack of first-team football
BRIGHTON wonderkid Evan Ferguson is set to snub a host of suitors to stay on the South Coast.
Manchester United will send scouts to watch the young Republic of Ireland international play against France tomorrow.
Tottenham and Chelsea are also admirers of Ferguson, who is having a breakout season for the Seagulls.
But the 18-year-old is in no hurry to leave Brighton and believes his development will be better served by remaining at a club where he will have more opportunities to play first-team football.
Ferguson followed up his two goals in the Seagulls’ 5-0 FA Cup win over Grimsby by scoring on his first start for the Republic of Ireland, in last week’s friendly win over Latvia.
The teenager has netted seven goals in all competition for Brighton this season in 16 matches.
His good form is helping the the club mount a challenge for European qualification.
Ferguson also has the chance to impress against Man Utd in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on April 22.
The Red Devils view signing a striker as a priority in the summer and Ferguson may not be the only attacker through the door.
Erik ten Hag is keen on the likes of Tottenham star Harry Kane and Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos.
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However, adding youth seems to be important with United also being linked with Atalanta star Rasmus Hojlund.
The Dane, who scored a hat-trick on his international debut for Denmark, has been compared to Erling Haaland and he is supposedly a Man Utd supporter.