The Next Big Thing - Wegryn Enterprises

On the most recent Premier League matchday, a truly rare event occurred. Three different players all scored hat tricks in different games.

Two of those players were well known, but for the last one, it was his coming-out party.

Evan Ferguson announced himself to the larger footballing world against Newcastle.

But for those who have watched the Irishman in the past, it’s all part of his rise to stardom.

There seems to be a return of the more traditional poacher across football. Ferguson profiles as a throwback, but his game has evolved enough to fit into modern football. More Vlahović than Mbappe, the Irishman is in the best league to hone his game in.

At just 18, Ferguson is already a full Irish international and a key piece to Brighton’s squad. It’s always difficult to predict the future, but he’s clearly at the best spot for his career currently. His future will likely be away from the Gulls, but it was a good choice to spend another year with de Zerbi.

It’d be a safe bet to call this the year that really pushes Ferguson to the forefront of being Europe’s next big striker. Even if he doesn’t score 20+ goals this season, he’s putting together enough evidence to hint at a promising career.

Recent years have seen a return of the poacher. The term itself is pretty vague and encompasses way too many players, but does essentially describe players whose main job is to score.

Ferguson is a tall forward whose body is built like classic strikers of the 90s, but he does have more skill than is often credited. None of his non-scoring numbers jump off the page, but it’s really his movement that is tantalizing.

Watching the way he is able to exploit the tiniest of spaces, you forget that he’s only 18. That innate ability to punish backlines like that is a skill only the top strikers have. This is what scouts at some of Europe’s top clubs want in their next striker.

Of course, to reach the next level, he has to fit into a modern offense a little more smoothly. It’s up to him to help in the build-up and work in tandem with his wingers to create space for himself. Even if his dribbling doesn’t get truly better, becoming a better passer will allow him to reach his full potential.

As great as all these peripheral stats are, what good are they if you can’t put the ball in the back of the net? In a league still ruled by Haaland, only Ferguson truly rivals his finishing numbers. It remains to be seen if he can keep these numbers up, but early signs are definitely positive for him.

Many may think of Haaland or, to a lesser extent, Vlahović as the clear molds for Ferguson, and they’d be right for the most part. However, Ferguson does lack the elite edge of both these players right now. As unsexy as it may seem, Haller and Morata are closer to what Ferguson’s ceiling may be as of now.

There are a lot of things to like about Ferguson, even if he is a little raw. He may never reach the heights of Haaland, but he should still be a star player on a winning team.

Last season, Ferguson was just making ripples in the larger pond that was Brighton’s excellent year. Choosing to stay at Brighton will prove to be the best choice that he could have made.

The latter half of last season saw the 18-year-old find his footing in the Prem and become a full Irish international. While he didn’t set the league on fire, there were signs in his play that signaled the amount of potential in him. Teams were definitely interested in him, but his stats didn’t warrant an immediate jump.

Had his output been around ten goals, a larger club would have definitely jumped for him. Manchester United, in their endless search for a new striker, clearly had him on their lists. Chelsea was another club that could have moved for him, and he does seem like a Potch striker.

Ultimately, Ferguson stayed with de Zerbi, and this was the best move for him. The way de Zerbi sets up his team will give the Irishman the chance to just be a poacher. With the Gulls, he’ll continue to be allotted the touches he needs while being a star player for his club.

It would be no big surprise to see some of those larger clubs come back in the next summer window. His style is made for the Prem, but only really Arsenal seem to have a spot for him. While his style doesn’t totally translate abroad, Simeone would love him at Atleti.

Ferguson is on an upward trajectory to stardom. Brighton have had a lot of great scouting success stories, but he may be their first bonafide homegrown star.