Evan Ferguson, a 19-year-old from Brighton, has been linked to Arsenal in the summer since the Gunners are said to be lacking in offensive punch at the No. 9 position.
The need for Arsenal to find a goal striker has decreased in light of recent performances. There have been 25 goals in six straight Premier League victories.
However, Mikel Arteta’s team also failed miserably in their Champions League matchup against Porto due to a lackluster offensive showing, which served as a reminder that a natural center-forward would be a valuable addition.
The Ireland international is a significant investment for Arsenal, with Ferguson likely to fetch a price tag of about €115 million from Brighton, who traded Moises Caicedo to Chelsea for a comparable figure last summer.
Considering that the 19-year-old has had a comparatively dismal season, this is especially the case.
In 31 games, he has only scored six goals; the most recent one came in a November match against Nottingham Forest. That’s a far way from his explosive start to the season when he scored three goals against Newcastle to establish himself as a player to watch.
Since then, the team has seen him come and go under manager Roberto De Zerbi.
A player with enormous promise
Nonetheless, Ferguson is still a valuable addition to Arsenal.
According to statistics firm SciSports, no player in the mold of Ferguson can improve with a No. 9 Arsenal summer wish.
The data analytics experts offer Ferguson a potential rating of 124.1, more than players who are 80% similar to him.
Rasmus Hojlund of Manchester United, for instance, has a ceiling of 119.4, and Tammy Abraham of Roma, who is now sidelined due to a long-term injury but has previously been linked to a move to Arsenal, has the potential to reach 109.0.
The disadvantage is evident. Ferguson is not yet a top-tier player at the age of 19. With a SciSkill rating of 84.2, he falls well short of what Mikel Arteta would hope for in an elite player.
The question is whether Arsenal thinks he’s worth the initial €115 million spend, which is risky since there’s no assurance he’ll realize his full potential.