He was the ‘next Alan Shearer’ and Newcastle United wanted him, now he leaves the Premier League on just 13 goals

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Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer remains the finest goalscorer the Premier League has ever seen.

Shearer’s record of 260 Premier League goals will take some beating, although some have come close.

Harry Kane looked on course to break the record before leaving English football in 2023. Mohamed Salah is the current active Premier League player who is closest to Shearer’s record, with 186 goals.

Still, there have been plenty of players touted as the one to truly follow in Shearer’s footsteps. The Newcastle United legend had such a profound impact on English football that observers are always looking for his heir.

Evan Ferguson was briefly tipped as one. Ferguson was compared to a young Shearer after breaking through at Brighton, though has struggled since.

Newcastle were linked with Ferguson, who has now left the Premier League.

• READ MORE: Alan Shearer hails him as the man who ‘saved’ Newcastle United, ‘he was the very best’

Evan Ferguson joins Roma on loan

The former Newcastle transfer target has officially joined Italian outfit Roma on loan from Brighton.  

The Irish international endured a difficult loan spell with West Ham during the second half of last season and didn’t score in eight appearances.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the move to the Italian capital will see Roma pay an initial £2.5million and the agreement contains a £32million option to buy, although that is not mandatory.

Ferguson has scored 13 goals in 68 Premier League games. Three of those were against Newcastle, when the striker bagged a hat-trick against Eddie Howe’s side in 2023.

What Alan Shearer has said about Evan Ferguson

Ferguson is still only 20, so still has a lot of time to build on his potential. He suffered with injuries too, so perhaps it will take him to really get back on track.

Clearly, there’s a player in there. There’s every chance he could rebuild himself at Roma and eventually return to the Premier League a much better player.

Shearer is a big fan, too. Speaking to the Premier League’s official website in 2023, the former England captain was effusive in his praise after Ferguson following his hat-trick against the Magpies.

“Ran Newcastle ragged,” said Shearer.

“The 18-year-old is a special talent.”