Scottish champions Celtic continue to soar under manager Ange Postecoglou, with the title-winning coach having worked wonders at Parkhead thus far as a result of his front-foot play style and astute dealings in the transfer market.

The 57-year-old has notably utilised his J-League connections to secure the signings of the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate over the past year or so, with that trio among a crop of additions who have been pivotal in reviving the club’s fortunes, following the dour end to Neil Lennon’s second spell in charge.

Such success with regard to recruitment has evidently not always been the norm for the Old Firm giants, however, with the Glasgow side likely to have made notable blunders or errors in the transfer market in the recent past.

One such error that may well now sting is the club’s inability to snap up Brighton and Hove Albion starlet, Evan Ferguson, with the Republic of Ireland international currently thriving in the Premier League.

Were Celtic close to signing Evan Ferguson?

The 18-year-old marksman was acquired by the Seagulls from Bohemians back in January 2021, although prior to that the Hoops were one of a handful of clubs who took a close look at the teenager, having brought him in on trial.

As the player himself admitted, despite interest from those at Celtic Park – as well as the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United – he ultimately opted to make the move to the Amex, having seen a potential, clearer pathway into the first-team at the club:

“I have been on a trial to a few clubs but that [Liverpool] was the main one [other than Brighton]. I was on trial with Manchester United, Celtic, and Everton. I think from the outside it was obvious to see that [pathway] and most of the managers here have given chances to young players.”

There will no doubt be frustration that the Bhoys were unable to tempt the striker into making the move to Scotland instead with the promise of a regular role, with the Scottish Premiership side now left to rue that missed chance amid Ferguson’s success south of the border.

How is Evan Ferguson doing at Brighton?

While it is still early days in the 6 foot 2 gem’s senior career, the Irishman has already made his mark for Roberto De Zerbi’s side, having already scored five goals and provided four assists in just 16 appearances for Brighton thus far.

Lauded as “phenomenal” by teammate Solly March, Ferguson only recently powered his side into the FA Cup quarter-finals after scoring the winning goal in the victory over Stoke City earlier this week, showcasing his poacher’s instinct to tap home from close range.

Not just a threat inside the penalty area, however, the towering, physical asset also offers a lot more in attack as a result of his impressive hold-up play, with such traits having seen him receive glowing praise from the aforementioned March:

“He’s strong, he’s quick, he holds the ball up well and he scores goals – so we’re delighted with him. He’s a different player to what we’ve had in recent games. It’s nice to have that big figure in the box who you know when you cross balls in, he’s going to hold it up.”

The two-cap machine has made a smooth transition to life in England’s top-flight with three goals and two assists in just seven league games this season, with that the same tally that ex-Celtic man Odsonne Edouard has produced for Crystal Palace this term, albeit with the Frenchman having made 22 appearances thus far.

That has ensured that young Ferguson boasts a remarkable scoring rate of a goal every 103 minutes in the current campaign, while Edouard – who left the Hoops back in the summer of 2021 – has scored a goal every 377 minutes.

Unsurprisingly the praise has been flooding in for the Brighton man having been lauded as like “Alan Shearer in his pomp” by Sky Sports pundit Tim Sherwood, with it looking as if he is set for a bright future in the game – as the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are now circling for his signature.

With it likely that the Bettystown native will move on for a big fee in the years to come – amid that interest in his services – it will undoubtedly sting that Celtic could have potentially snapped him up when he was just 16.