Speaking exclusively with BoyleSports, former Republic of Ireland defender and ex-Nottingham Forest coach Steven Reid shares his insights on Irish talent and Premier League transfer speculation.
Reid discusses the transfer prospects of Evan Ferguson and Adam Idah, Eberechi Eze’s potential Arsenal move, and the tactical fit of players like Viktor Gyokeres in the transfer market.
Eze To Arsenal?
I think Eberechi Eze is in the position now, at his age, where you get into those prime seasons of football. It has to be something he’s thinking about. The question now is whether he can or will get a chance at the top level of the Premier League if Arsenal or another club come in for him.
He’s going to have serious questions to ask. He’ll want to play in the Champions League. If you look at his quality, he’s just been getting better and better.
So if that opportunity comes, then it is maybe time for him. On the flipside of that, because a lot of work I do is with players and mental health, if he’s happy there as the main man there, that’s something to consider.
I was at the club when we had Wilfried Zaha. He was the real main man, fans’ favourite and having a big impact every week. He’s at a decent side competing at that level. Whether that’s enough to keep him happy for now, I’m not sure.
But there will be a burning desire to play Champions League football.
Eze Valuation
I can see Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White at the same kind of level. You’re talking £60m to £75m. But for these players, I almost see it as no risk, even though it’s a lot of money.
I worked with Brennan Johson when he was at Forest. He wasn’t at that level. It was a bit of a punt and a lot of money, but it was like a no-risk signing.
They’ve been doing it now for a decent period of time. They’re going to get into good areas, score goals. They’re decent characters. It’s not an unknown, like buying a player from abroad who might need time to adapt and settle in with a new language, culture and dressing room. Whatever it is, I just think they’re secure.
A little bit like Declan Rice. He’s been doing it longer and was more established, but even at £100m it was a no-risk signing. You’ve got a top player for the next five, six or seven years.
He’s one of my favourite players to watch at the moment. He also seems like such a grounded, great person to have around the dressing room. That’s a win-win if you’re getting ability and character; that’s the ultimate for any manager or coach.
Ferguson’s Missed United Chance?
Evan Ferguson to Manchester United would have been interesting. It’s strange, really. From going from that spell where he looked like one of the top number 9s in the league, bursting on the scene, a key player, to all of a sudden dropping off and being loaned out.
I’ve read about the next move, perhaps being Roma. Wherever he does end up going will be a restart for him. Ideally, it will be a top club, like Roma. It would be nice to see him closer to home, but the key will be playing regular football again.
Looking at him, it looks like he’s the one to carry Ireland through now. Going back to my era, we always had Roy Keane, Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Richard Dunne. Every player was a Premier League starter, pretty much, with three or four for top Premier League teams.
Our under-21s team, too. The majority of us were playing first-team Championship football, minimum. I was feeling he would be the one to carry Ireland through, which he still might do. But the key will be to establish himself somewhere else and play first-team football.
Ferguson Needs Solid Pre-Season!
Potentially, Evan Ferguson could make more of an impact than Rasmus Hojlund at Manchester United now. Rasmus Hojlund has struggled. I think wherever he goes, he could make a big impact.
You could liken it to Tammy Abraham going to Italy, doing really well, then Milan. I’d back him to make an impact, although he didn’t make the impact some were expecting at West Ham. Maybe it just comes back to, sometimes, having a really good pre-season and starting the season strong.
Ferguson Can Do It Anywhere!
I think he would definitely be a good move for Everton and Celtic. Celtic would be an interesting one if he goes up and joins his countrymen, with Adam Idah up there. I can see the Everton link. I could see either.
In terms of bringing that form into the international stage, you’d probably say a Premier League move would be a better one. I’m reading that the closest move does seem to be Roma. But I could see any team he goes to benefiting from his impact.
He has the ability to do it at whatever level he goes into.
Idah Must Kick On!
Adam Idah’s move to Celtic has been an important one for him. He needed that move away from Norwich to kickstart his career. The move so far has been a positive one for him. But it does feel like he does need to just kick on a bit now.
As a young player, he was breaking in and out, but probably now is the time to establish himself with more game and goals than bringing that form into the international scene.
Gyokeres Arsenal Fit
There are very few crossing teams now in the Premier League: out-and-out, get it wide, get in the box. A lot of the game now is quite data-heavy and working it into areas to get your best opportunity to score, into cutback zones.
If they get it wide and there are not enough bodies in the box, just work it again and switch it from side to side.
So I don’t think it will have too much of an impact. One of the biggest weapons for Arsenal has been set-plays. On that note, it’s not often it’s the first phase of set-play anyway; it’s the second phase, it’s the tap-in.
I don’t think it’ll have too much of an impact. His goal-scoring record is the main factor. The out-and-out number nine who is going to get into good areas he doesn’t have to be involved in the link-up play. A bit like Erling Haaland, his position might be set.
Get the ball wide and just get into good areas in the box. So I don’t think it will have too much of an impact. The main thing will be that he's someone aiming to hit that 30-goal mark in the Premier League.
Gyokeres Is A Risk
Viktor Gyokeres is a risk. It’s more of a risk than the players we have mentioned, like Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze. They have already been doing it in the Premier League. Gyokeres had English football with Brighton, then Coventry, then got the big move and has done so well. He has scored in European competition, but it is a risk.
You’re coming into the Premier League with a completely different style, a different tempo to the game. I’d say it is a risk. But at that level and the sort of money we’re talking about, I think buying abroad from a league, perhaps like Portugal, where there have been successes and failures, so it is more of a risk.
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