
Roma 'agree loan deal with Brighton for Evan Ferguson including option to buy for £32.9m' after striker's failed stint at West Ham
The 20-year-old striker burst on to the scene as a teenager under Graham Potter following his move from Irish outfit Bohemians in 2021.
However, has endured a troubled time with injury over the last few seasons, struggling to carve out a sustained period in the Brighton team.
He spent the second-half of last season on loan at West Ham, but failed to make an impact, failing to score in eight Premier League appearances for the Hammers.
Ferguson could not be set for another loan move away from Brighton, who have been in talks with Roma this week over a loan deal with an option to buy.
According to Sky Italia, the negotiations between the two clubs had been ongoing for some time, with a significant gap between Roma's initial proposal of £26m (€30m) and Brighton's asking price closer to £34.6m (€40m).
The final fee is now expected to settled at £32.9m (€38m) including add-ons.
Roma are now said to be focused on ironing out contractual details and agreeing personal terms with Ferguson, which are not expected to present major issues.
Ferguson burst onto the scene when he scored a hat-trick against Newcastle at the start of 2023-24 season aged just 18.
He was compared with a young Alan Shearer, the Premier League top scorer, at the time and an exciting future looked set in stone.
But his progress has stalled due to injuries - including a six-month lay-off with an ankle problem.
If Ferguson completes a move to Serie A, he will become the second striker to depart Brighton this summer after Joao Pedro, who has joined Chelsea for £60m.
Meanwhile, Seagulls left-back Pervis Estupinan is attracting interest from Manchester United and AC Milan.
At 27, Brighton will not stand in his way if he wants to leave for another challenge and bids close to £40m would tempt them.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
10 minutes ago
- The Independent
Investigation launched into hateful comments after France's exit from the Women's Euros
The French Football Federation (FFF) has called for an investigation into hateful comments made online following the national team's exit from the Women's Euros after a penalty shootout loss to Germany in the quarter-finals. The governing body condemned the abuse, stating that "Nothing can justify such manifestations of hatred." In a statement on Wednesday, the FFF expressed "full support to all the players concerned" and reaffirmed its "commitment to the values of respect and solidarity, which are the basis of our sport." To combat the issue, the federation has "decided to immediately contact the National Center Against Online Hatred to allow for the opening of an investigation aimed at sanctioning criminal behaviour." This decisive action comes shortly after England defender Jess Carter withdrew from social media due to racial abuse she received online, highlighting a growing concern within the sport. France goalkeeper Pauline Peyeaud-Magnin also spoke out on Instagram about the abuse directed at her teammates. "There's one thing even harder to accept than defeat: hatred," she wrote. She continued, "We can be frustrated, we can be sad, we can even be angry. But hatred should never, ever have a place in this sport." Peyeaud-Magnin emphasised the human element behind the jerseys, adding: "Whether it's against a player on our team or an opponent: behind every jersey, there's a person ... thank you to those who continue to support us with kindness. We will rise again. Stronger. More united." The FFF's move underscores a broader push to tackle the pervasive issue of online abuse in football.


Daily Mail
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Liverpool star reveals new tattoo in tribute to team-mate Diogo Jota - with heartfelt four-word message
Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas has revealed a new tattoo in honour of his late team-mate Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash earlier this month. The footballer and his brother, Andre Silva, died when their car crashed in the early hours in northern Spain on July 3. A series of tributes have been paid in the weeks since, including Liverpool's decision to retire Jota's No 20 at all levels, following consultation with his widow and his family. Tsimikas has made his own personal tribute, with the Liverpool defender having a new tattoo on his left hand. The tattoo reads 'Wish you were here', with the message accompanied by Jota's No 20. An image of Tsimikas' new tattoo has emerge online, but it had also been visible when the Greek defender played in Liverpool's pre-season match against Preston. The match at Deepdale took place on July 13, just 10 days on from Jota's tragic death. A minute's silence was held prior to kick-off, while club anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone' was sung. Preston's club captain Benjamin Whiteman carried a wreath which he placed in front of the away end and players from both teams wore black armbands, while digital tributes were shown on screens around the ground. A black and white image of Jota holding the Premier League trophy featured on the cover of a 16-page commemorative matchday programme at Deepdale.


The Guardian
11 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Tour de France: Jonathan Milan wins stage 17 after crash-strewn sprint
Italy's Jonathan Milan claimed his second victory in this year's Tour de France when he won a crash-disrupted sprint in the 17th stage on Wednesday. Milan prevailed in a 10-man sprint after the peloton was held up behind a massive crash with just one kilometre to go, as riders went down on slippery roads in a rainy finish in Valence. Biniam Girmay was attended to by race doctors after a crash with 1km to go. Tadej Pogacar crossed the finish line safely to retain the overall leader's yellow jersey. France's Quentin Pacher and Mathieu Burgaudeau, as well as Jonas Abrahamsen of Norway and Italy's Vincenzo Albanese, broke away early but stood little chance against the collective power of the sprinters' teams. With the peloton breathing down their necks, Abrahamsen went solo with 11km remaining, only to be reined in 4.3km from the line. Milan was the strongest in the reduced sprint, edging out Jordi Meeus of Belgium and Denmark's Tobias Lund Andresen, who were second and third, respectively. Thursday's 18th stage is a brutal mountain trek between Vif and the Col de la Loze, one of the most feared ascents in the Tour. Jeremy Whittle's report will appear here later