Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur could hold an advantage over Chelsea in a proposed race to sign Brighton striker Evan Ferguson due to their owner Tony Bloom's opinion of the Stamford Bridge club.
Ferguson burst on to the scene in the 2022/2023 season scoring a solid six goals in 19 appearances for the Seagulls. His performances earned him comparisons with Erling Haaland as his strength, at such a young age, caught the eye.
He has since gone off the boil and has, this season, struggled with injuries. However, at 20, the Republic of Ireland star remains a top prospect for Premier League clubs across the country and, possibly, a cost-effective option too.
However, Chelsea's hopes of completing a deal for the 18-cap Irishman could be in jeopardy if Bloom's comments about the club - in 2023 - still hold weight. In an interview with The Athletic, the businessman insisted it was not personal but having lost Graham Potter, Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo to the Blues, he was not keen to keep doing business with the club.
"It's possible, over the next two or three years, that we have no dealings with Chelsea," he told the media outlet at that particular juncture. "So, for me, it's not personal at all and each individual deal I've got to do what's best for the football club first and foremost.
"If other clubs are interested in our head coaches, staff, players, I much prefer it that way than no-one's looking at any of our players or staff. So, we're doing something very right.
"We do everything we can to keep our best players, but we know in the way of the world that it won't always be the case." When speaking specifically about Ferguson, Bloom added: "I'm extremely excited about [Evan] Ferguson, as I am by lots of our young players who are also playing phenomenally well.
"But I will let others talk about the potential and what it may be. He doesn't need me to put any more pressure on him. He's a great young man, he's got a superb temperament, I'll just let him develop and see what happens."