'Secret': Arsenal were the mystery club who bid for £60m attacker this week – journalist

01/30/2025 11:00 AM

Arsenal have left it late to make their moves in the winter transfer window, but now, the ball is really rolling.

Indeed, Arsenal bid for Ollie Watkins on Wednesday, and while Aston Villa rejected that offer, Arsenal are ready to make a second approach for Watkins.

However, Watkins isn't the only striker Arsenal have bid for this week.

Indeed, a mystery club bid for Evan Ferguson this week, and according to Ben Jacobs, speaking on Curtis Shaw TV, it was indeed Arsenal who made the offer for the striker.

The bid was said to be in excess of £50m, but Brighton knocked back this offer.

Ferguson has been valued at £60m in recent times.

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Arsenal made Evan Ferguson bid

According to Jacobs, Arsenal were the so-called mystery team who made a bid for Ferguson.

The journalist says that Arsenal did make an approach for the striker, but Brighton's stance was that they didn't want to sell and only wanted to do a loan deal.

"They can't do a Premier League loan that rules out Evan Ferguson. Although my understanding is the 'secret' or 'anonymous' club that did actually make an approach to Brighton was Arsenal and they were told very clearly that Brighton don't want to sell, they want to loan," Ferguson said.

"Evan Ferguson was quite interesting because as I revealed a few weeks ago, Raheem Sterling and Neto can't be recalled. Arsenal can't do a loan, they have to buy, so they called up Brighton and said 'will you sell?' And they don't want permanence, as it stands anyway."

Evan Ferguson compared to Ollie Watkins

Arsenal have made two bids for two Premier League strikers this week, and it's clear which player the Gunners should be pushing to sign.

Indeed, while Ferguson is talented young player with plenty of room to grow and improve, Watkins is the man who should be Arsenal's top priority.

The stats this season show exactly why Watkins should be the Gunners' top target.

Watkins is outperforming Ferguson to some degree, and with Arsenal just behind Liverpool in the title race, they need a player who is going to make an immediate difference.

Arsenal believe Watkins would be a top signing, and while Ferguson would be more of a long-term play who could ultimately end up being an elite talent, Arsenal need a player who is going to be an immediate game-changer. There are just days to go in the transfer window, and Arsenal have