Ex-Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has backed his former club to sign Brighton striker Evan Ferguson this summer.
The Gunners are known to be in the market for a new No.9, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen having been widely tipped as their top target, but Petit says Ferguson is a likelier option:
“Gabriel Jesus always gives his all, but he always lacks the coolness in front of the opposing goal. Maybe a well-known newcomer would somehow give him wings.”
“Evan Ferguson would prevail because of his effectiveness & his coolness. I think Osimhen will move somewhere else, like PSG or Manchester United.”
Ferguson wouldn’t exactly be a cheaper alternative to Osimhen
Napoli will expect clubs to meet Osimhen’s €130m (£111m) release clause, which means that Arsenal would have to break their transfer record for the second successive year to secure the Nigerian international’s signature.
There have been reports that the Gunners may, therefore, consider cheaper alternatives but Ferguson is unlikely to be available for a much lower price, with it being claimed that Brighton will ask for £100m. The fact that Chelsea are also said to be watching the Irishman means that the Seagulls will feel justified in keeping to their valuation.
Who are the other forwards that Arsenal could target?
In addition to Osimhen and Ferguson, it is believed that Mikel Arteta’s side have been keeping close tabs on the likes of Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres, Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee and Brentford’s Ivan Toney.
Gyokeres has a €100m (£86m) buyout fee so he is in the same price range as Ferguson. Zirkzee and Toney, on the other hand, are expected to be sold closer to the £50m mark, with the latter nearing the final year of his contract.
