Manchester United academy director Nick Cox is reported to have said that the club made a major mistake in not signing Evan Ferguson as a youth player.
According to Sky Sports, Cox "recently labelled the teenager a '£50m-plus mistake' after the club failed to secure him on youth terms during a trial".
It's also said that United and Spurs have both identified the Ireland international as one of the main candidates to lead their forward line in the long-term and that the Premier League clubs will attempt to sign the Meath native in the summer of 2024.
Before signing with Brighton, Ferguson went on trial with Liverpool, Manchester United, Everton and Celtic but chose to move to the English south coast.
🗣️ “I think he will become one of the 𝘽𝙀𝙎𝙏 players and 𝘽𝙀𝙎𝙏 strikers in the Premier League.”
Roberto De Zerbi on forward Evan Ferguson.👏 pic.twitter.com/lwff962Gmv
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 23, 2023
Neil Fox, who worked with Ferguson at underage level with St Kevin's Football Club, told Sky Sports that Ferguson made the right decision not to sign with Liverpool or Manchester United.
"I think it shows where his head was in that he didn't care about the status or the headlines or the money that comes from making that kind of move," said Fox.
"He signed for Brighton because he was looking at his career and saying 'I'm gonna work my way up here and I'm gonna be seen and I'm gonna get a chance'. And no disrespect to obviously the bigger clubs, but we'd all agree he's made the right decision to go to Brighton.
"He'll achieve everything he is destined do because his head and heart is in the right place over becoming the finest footballer he can be."
In April, the 18-year-old signed a new long-term deal at Brighton which runs until 2028.
On Sunday, he took his tally to six Premier League goals this season, and 10 in all competitions, with a brace against Southampton. Those came in a 3-1 win which sealed European football for Brighton next season.
See Also: Evan Ferguson Gives Definitive Answer To Laughable Sky Sports Question
