'Everton and West Ham in pole position to agree deal for £80m star'

Everton and West Ham are set to battle it out to land the signature of Evan Ferguson before the January transfer window closes as both teams need a striker.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson revealed that he believes these two teams are the “most obvious fit” for the striker.

Everton are currently without Dominic Calvert-Lewin due to a hamstring injury which has left David Moyes thin on options as he looks to the transfer market to help fix that problem.

However, Graham Potter is doing the exact same thing at West Ham due to Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug being on the sidelines due to injuries.

Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness exclusively told Football Insider that the Hammers are “favourites” to seal a late-window move for Ferguson, who is looking to depart the Amex Stadium this month.

Football Insider revealed back in November that Ferguson was seeking a Brighton exit due to a lack of playing time, and both Everton and West Ham are set to offer him that opportunity before the window closes on 3 February.

Everton and West Ham are two of several clubs on the hunt for a striker

“The amount of teams looking for strikers in this window is frightening,” Robinson told Football Insider.

“Everyone is looking for that number nine.

“We're going to talk about West Ham, the likes of Evan Ferguson, those type of players. Evan Ferguson's got to be linked to Everton as well.

“There's got to be an opportunity there, maybe if he is allowed out on loan, he could be a player that would certainly make them better.

“Calvert-Lewin's injury, Beto, they grossly overpaid for Beto, he's not done it at the top levels, not scored the goals.

“And without Calvert-Lewin, for all his flaws, his injury record, he hasn't scored enough goals.

“So long as Ferguson’s playing, that's the important thing for him is that he plays.

“With the new manager coming in at Brighton, his face hasn't fit for whatever reason.

“We know he's had his injury problems, but not long ago, we were putting a hundred million price tag on this kid's head.

“We were talking 80, 90, a hundred million, and now we're talking about potential loans to get him out and get him some games.

“He's got the opportunity to at Everton because of the injuries.

“It's difficult to pick, but Everton and West Ham for me, they look like the most obvious fit for Evan Ferguson.”

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