Evan Ferguson's Brighton future takes shock twist as two Premier League clubs line up January moves

Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson has been made available for transfer in a shock development and two Premier League clubs have been linked with a January loan swoop.

The 20-year-old Republic of Ireland international joined the Seagulls academy at the start of 2021 from Bohemians in his native country and has had a rapid rise to playing Premier League football since then.

He made his Brighton debut in August 2021 and has gone on to score 17 goals in 73 appearances across all competitions for the AMEX Stadium outfit.

Ferguson also has four goals in 22 caps for the Republic of Ireland, having made his debut in 2022.

Ferguson flourished particularly under former Seagulls boss Roberto de Zerbi, as he featured regularly under the Italian during his two seasons in charge.

De Zerbi departed Brighton following the end of last season when his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

He was replaced by Fabian Hurzeler and Ferguson's game time has diminished since the German's arrival.

He has fallen down the pecking order in the striking department behind the experienced Danny Welbeck, summer signing from Leeds United Georginio Rutter, and Joao Pedro.

Part of this has also been down to injury and had surgery in April on an ankle ligament problem, and overall he has scored once in only eight appearances so far this campaign, mostly as a substitute.

Brighton forward Evan Ferguson. (Image: Getty)

With Ferguson unable to get sufficient game time at the AMEX, the Daily Telegraph now reports that Brighton have made the forward available for a loan move in the upcoming January transfer window.

It was only last summer that Manchester United considered making a move for Ferguson, who signed a six-year contract with Brighton only last year which will keep him at the Seagulls until the summer of 2029.

But now, it appears that both Leicester City and Fulham are the two Premier League sides who are now eyeing making loan moves for Ferguson in January, according to Football Insider.

The Foxes have scored 15 goals in the top flight this campaign as they seek to avoid relegation back to the Championship at the first time of asking, while the Cottagers have netted 17 times in the Premier League and are currently just in the top half of the table.