Ferguson is unproven, but he does come across as a top center forward in the making (a less polished version of Benzema, in a way): strength in possession, sense for dropping deep to collect the ball and link-up play are among the best for the U-23 group (for reference, he is 90+ percentile for ball retention), sharp instincts and anticipatory movement with footwork that is up to scratch, effective in the air and on the ground, makes the game seem simple and operates like a veteran (a rare quality) as he nails the fundamentals on a routine basis, scores different types of goals (with either foot or with his head, as the result of intricate build-ups or quick counter-attacks), works hard for the collective and fits well in Brighton's pressing scheme, is receiving the right education for today's game under De Zerbi, and so forth.
If he was blessed with a greater burst to create separation in confined spaces, quickly generate overloads and run center halves ragged as a ball-carrier, I would have no problems paying £70 million, or a bit more, for him this very summer, even considering his lack of experience — as he would then be as complete a line-leading center forward prospect (in terms of ingredients, and the heights he could reach) as we have seen in recent years. Also, what if a club like Newcastle United acquires him in the near term (and he turns out to be a ever-present force for them, as well as a what-could-have-been pain in the arse for us?)
United will have some tough decisions to make in coming months: provided Levy allows him to leave Tottenham, do we make a substantial investment in Kane (who is playing at a high level right now and gives us the best chance to contend for major honors immediately, but might decline rapidly in the not-too-distant future), do we prioritize Osimhen (one of the most productive players in the European leagues this year, but will be the most expensive option of the lot (Napoli signed him from Lille for €70 million and will expect to turn a substantial profit) and might take time to adjust to the Premier League) or do we target someone like Ferguson (who is unlikely to hit the ground running, and for all we know, might never turn out to be an an elite center forward, but is better then Kane at a comparable age and could start approaching his peak in as few as 2-3 seasons, and give years upon years of distinguished service to the club (in terms of centrally oriented forwards, we haven't had this type of security since Wayne Rooney)).
Can't decide, personally speaking — keep going back and forth between the options! And a monster fee for much more proven players can be a sub-optimal and risky endeavor, too; in recent years alone, we need look no further than Hazard, Griezmann, Coutinho, even Pogba and Maguire for us, et cetera.
