Man Utd academy director bemoans ‘£50m-plus mistake’ as Red Devils ‘earmark’ £100m starlet

Man Utd academy director Nick Cox has bemoaned a big “mistake” by the Red Devils after they failed to sign Evan Ferguson on youth terms during a trial.

Brighton beat off competition from a number of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, to land Ferguson from Irish side Bohemians in January 2021.

And, after impressing in the Seagulls’ academy, Ferguson was handed a number of chances to impress in the first team this season with the 18-year-old taking his opportunities with both hands,

Ferguson produced a brilliant display in their 3-1 victory over Southampton at the weekend with the Republic of Ireland international scoring a brace.

That has taken his total to the season to seven goals and three assists from 19 appearances in all competitions with Ferguson also earning four caps for Ireland along the way.

And he is already attracting interest from a number of clubs with Sky Sports claiming that Man Utd and Tottenham ‘have earmarked’ him ‘as a strong candidate to lead their line in the long-term and have laid down groundwork to pursue him next summer’.

There is little chance of the Seagulls allowing him to leave in the near future with no need to sell after Ferguson signed a new contract in April that will keep him at the club until 2028.

On Man Utd interest in Ferguson, Sky Sports added:

‘Sky Sports News has been told Manchester United’s academy director Nick Cox recently labelled the teenager a “£50m-plus mistake” after the club failed to secure him on youth terms during a trial, meaning they would have to fork out a substantial fee for him in the future.

‘Brighton believe if Ferguson continues his trajectory he can turn into a £100m player, a view echoed by at least two European sporting directors, one of whom likened the variety in the Republic of Ireland international’s game to Harry Kane.’

Roberto de Zerbi praised Ferguson after his goals in their victory over Southampton helped Brighton to guarantee European football next season, with the Europa League currently looking like the most likely competition.

De Zerbi said: “It’s incredible. It’s one of the best days in my career and I am really proud to be the coach of this club with these players and these fans. We won together.

“I can’t explain my emotions but I can say my players are of a very high level, they are fantastic players and fantastic people. They deserve to qualify for Europe.

“Ferguson’s improvement has been incredible. He’s playing like an old player but he is only 18. There is a good dressing room with the mentality to help all our younger players.”

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