Evan Ferguson with a former player who knows all about life at Old Trafford, John O'Shea.

Talk of interest from United presents whole new challenge for Ferguson

The news announced yesterday that Brighton & Hove Albion had extended Evan Ferguson's contract is hardly a surprise.

The young Bettystown player only signed his first professional contract with the club last October but his sensational form in ransacking some of the best defences in European and, arguably, World football, has made him box office.

The new improved contract, which extends to 2028 and which Ferguson has signed, is aimed at tying the young player firmly to the club for the immediate future.

Brighton wanted to ward off the attentions of bigger clubs such as Manchester United who, it is claimed, were putting together "a mega deal" to attract Ferguson to Old Trafford.

All that is a compliment to the player but it can also prove to be a huge distraction. It would be only human for the young man to wonder what life would be like with some of the super clubs.

The new contract ensures that if one of the big guns want Fergusion they are going to have to spend big - and then some.

Ferguson clearly enjoys life in Brighton and perhaps part of that is due to the fact it's beside the sea, just like his home place, Bettystown.

The 18-year-old has shown remarkable maturity so far in dealing with the hype and the murderous intentions of Premier League defenders who don't take kindly to be be humiliated and exposed by a youngster, or anyone else for that matter.

He has scored nine goals in all competitions since December, including four in the Premier League.

Ferguson also scored his first senior goal for the Republic of Ireland in the recent friendly against Latvia.

Now he must somehow put all that talk of interest from United and other top clubs to one side and concentrate on gaining more experience and developing his formidable talents.

Doubtless the new contract offered by Brighton will make it very difficult for others to attract him away but money talks, especially in the English top flight.

Clearly Ferguson is getting plenty of sound advice from a source or sources and hopefully that will continue.

"Evan's extension is great news," said Brighton head coach Roberto de Zerbi, who believes the young Meath man has the potential to be a great player. A truly great player.

He won't want his young star be put off by endless speculation in the media of the giants of the game looking to take him on and attract him away from the English south coast.