Brighton & Hove Albion’s penchant for developing players has helped them garner some significant transfer fees over the past few years.
The Seagulls have sold nine players to their top-flight rivals since July 2021, banking far more than they initially paid to secure their services.
Their recent sale of Moises Caicedo to Chelsea for a British record fee was the latest move to set the cash tills ringing at the Amex Stadium.
Brighton’s development model is undoubtedly paying dividends, with the club set to feature in the Europa League for the first time in their history this season.
Having made a solid start to the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, the club appear to have suffered no ill-effects from losing several stars.
The next talented player off the Brighton production belt looks set to be striker Evan Ferguson, who has already made a big splash in the English top flight.
The Republic of Ireland international netted six goals in 19 appearances last season to draw admiring glances off numerous top clubs.
A measure of the impact Ferguson has made with Brighton can be evidenced by the reaction leading online bookmakers have made to his exploits.
He is rated as a 66/1 shot to finish as the Premier League’s top goalscorer this season, putting him ahead of noteworthy names such as Diogo Jota, Gabriel Martinelli and Bruno Fernandes.
While the Irish striker is unlikely to knock Manchester City’s Erling Braut Haaland off his perch in the scoring stakes, he could be a decent each-way bet to finish in the top four.
Those odds should be truly enticing to punters according to the leading sports betting sites in Ireland, especially when considering the exceptional impact Ferguson has made for Brighton this season. Comparison websites, which meticulously aggregate the most up-to-date reviews from an array of sportsbook companies, will expertly assist you in selecting the optimum choice at your disposal.
Ferguson demonstrated why he could be worth a wager by getting off the mark in Brighton’s opening game against Luton Town, showing awareness at the back post to slide home from close range.
Ferguson has inevitably been linked with several Premier League clubs including Manchester United and Arsenal, while Tottenham Hotspur have also been touted as a possible destination.
A potential future move to Tottenham would be an intriguing proposition, with the London club currently seeking a replacement for Harry Kane.
The England captain recently left the club to sign for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, leaving a massive void for the London outfit to fill.
Ferguson has admitted to studying Kane’s style of play, but insists he is focused on becoming a top-class talent in his own right.
“I take little bits out of Harry Kane’s game and try to bring them into mine,” he told the BBC.
“I see why people think we are a little bit similar but people are always comparing people to others, aren’t they?”
Although the ex-Bohemians youngster has a long way to go before he can be talked about as a potential heir to Kane, he already has the backing of his manager.
Roberto de Zerbi has said he will help the Irish teenager become one of the best strikers in Europe, and a strong season with Brighton would be the best way to move towards that goal.
Ferguson admits De Zerbi’s comments give him confidence and he is keen to reward him by enjoying a goal-packed season under his tutelage.
“There is a way to go for me but if he can see it I have to believe him,” Ferguson added.
“It’s hard to say what the future will be like. I just have to see how this season goes as a full one.
Last year was only half a year before I came in so with a full year I will see how I get on and go from there. I don’t think I can be in a better place at this moment in time.”
