As West Ham United circle around no fewer than three members of the Burnley squad, Scott Parker’s Premier League preparations have been made a whole lot more complicated.
Burnley confirmed recently, via their official website, that neither Josh Brownhill nor CJ Egan-Riley have agreed new deals with the Turf Moor outfit.
Former Manchester City youngster Egan-Riley remains on West Ham’s radar despite an approach from ambitious Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg.
And while captain fantastic Brownhill appears keen to stay at Burnley and lead the Clarets back into the Premier League, the free-scoring midfielder will see his contract expire on July 1st as things stand.
Both he and Egan-Riley are due to become free-agents in a matter of weeks.
Now, given West Ham United’s obvious deficiencies both in defence and midfield, not to mention their well-publicised financial issues, Football League pundit Don Goodman is hardly shocked to learn that Graham Potter could turn to Turf Moor in pursuit of bargain signings.
Goodman feels that, if Burnley are to avoid a repeat of their dismal 2023/24 campaign under Vincent Kompany, keeping Brownhill and Egan-Riley may be the difference between success and an oh-so familiar failure.
Don Goodman reacts as West Ham United target Burnley duo Josh Brownhill and CJ Egan-Riley
Brownhill scored a career-best 18 goals from his midfield role last term.
While Tomas Soucek feels increasingly likely to stay at West Ham – both Leeds and Everton held talks in May but things have gone quiet since then – this is still a Hammers team desperate for a consistent goal threat outside of Jarrod Bowen and their towering Czech battering ram.
Egan-Riley, meanwhile, was a major reason why Burnley can now boast the all-time record for the fewest goals ever conceded in a Championship campaign. Scott Parker’s iron-clad backline was breached only 16 times in 46 matches.
A defensive record nearly twice as good as that of champions Leeds United.
“I’m not really surprised,” Goodman tells Football League World in response to West Ham’s interest in the Burnley duo. “How can you be surprised? Josh Brownhill scored an incredible amount of goals for Burnley and was a leader on the pitch, a captain.
“CJ Egan-Riley belonged to a record-breaking Championship defence. [Egan-Riley] largely didn’t get the credit that he deserved because [Maxime] Esteve got loads of headlines, as did [goalkeeper] James Trafford. I think this is a very underrated player.
“If I’m Burnley, I’m really pushing the boat out financially in order to keep these two players.”
Maxime Esteve may snub Bayern Munich for Premier League chance
Speaking of Esteve, West Ham are reportedly interested in the £30 million Frenchman as well.
Former Montpellier man Maxime Esteve is on Bayern Munich’s radar heading into the summer window – Vincent Kompany could look to raid his old employers while Paris Saint-Germain target Kim Min-Jae – but the 23-year-old clearly feels he has unfinished business in the Premier League.
“For me, it’s always been my dream to play in England,” Esteve tells Foot Mercato. “[Kompany] said something that struck me; ‘You play Champions League quarter-finals every weekend in the Premier League’.
“My goal is to become a proven Premier League player. So, that’s how it has to be. It’s up to me to show that I’m more than capable of asserting myself and being good in this championship, quite simply.
“It’s an important step for me. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure it goes well in the same way.”
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