Bournemouth favourites to sign Brighton star Evan Ferguson amid striker injury crisis

After making an exceptional start to the Premier League season, and extending their unbeaten streak to eight matches with a win over Everton last weekend, Bournemouth were struck down with two critical injury blows this week. 

First-choice striker Evanilson, and his back-up Enes Unal, have both been ruled out for prolonged periods. Evanilson has undergone surgery on a broken foot, with no timescale placed on his recovery, while Unal suffered a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a training session - an injury which will see him sidelined for the remainder of the season and beyond. 

With both senior strikers set for lengthy spells on the sidelines, the Cherries moved to recall 21-year-old forward Daniel Jebbison from his loan stint at Championship side Watford, but an addition to their attacking ranks will certainly remain a priority this month.

One player already linked with a move to the Vitality Stadium during the January window is out-of-favour Brighton striker Evan Ferguson, who is reportedly available on loan.

Evan Ferguson Stats: Why Bournemouth move would make sense

20-year-old Ferguson enjoyed impressive breakout seasons under Roberto De Zerbi in 2022/23 and 2023/24, netting six goals in each of the two campaigns, but has struggled for consistent game time under new Seagulls head coach Fabian Hurzeler. 

The Republic of Ireland international has made just two league starts under Hurzeler, with his only goal of the campaign coming from the bench against Wolves in October.

In many ways, moving to Bournemouth on loan for the remainder of the season would suit Ferguson. The 20-year-old would likely arrive as the Cherries’ new first-choice centre-forward, and, in the absence of any superior alternatives, likely get a good run of games between now and the end of the campaign. 

When given an extended run in the starting XI, Ferguson showed his impressive potential as a Premier League goalscorer during his teenage years, and with a loan posing no financial risk for Bournemouth, it is a move that would seemingly make sense for all parties involved.

Which clubs are the favourites to sign Evan Ferguson in January?

At the time of writing, Bournemouth are priced up as the favourites to sign Ferguson, should he leave Brighton this month, at 7/4 with bet365, via oddschecker. 

The Cherries are followed in the market by Graham Potter’s West Ham (5/2), German side VfB Stuttgart (8/1) and Fulham (11/1). 

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