West Ham United have been given a major boost in their bid to land two Burnley stars, judging by the actions of Scott Parker and the players themselves.
The Hammers are plotting a major rebuild under Graham Potter and two Burnley stars are top targets.
West Ham are dealing with PSR issues this summer but know they must drastically improve with the likes of Burnley expected to make the Premier League much more competitive next season.
There is a feeling West Ham and a number of other established clubs ‘got away with one’ last term due to the promoted sides being so bad.
For the second season in a row all three promoted clubs were relegated.
Hammers pushing hard to sign Burnley free agent duo
As the best defensive side in the country, Burnley are looking to end that run as they return to the big time under former West Ham hero and three-time Hammer of the Year Scott Parker.
Potter’s overhaul plan involves weakening the Clarets.
West Ham had the oldest squad in the Premier League last season.
Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay are looking to reshape the side around young, athletic, energetic talent.
The Hammers must sell to buy this summer due to PSR.
So the free agent market is of particular interest to the east Londoners.
As a result, two Burnley stars are top targets for Potter in the shape of all-action midfielder Josh Brownhill and former Man City academy star CJ Egan-Riley.
Now West Ham have been given major hope of a Burnley double deal and Parker looks resigned to losing one of his stars.
West Ham’s interest in Brownhill goes back all the way to January 2020 but Potter is a fan too – especially with the player being a free agent.
West Ham have been pushing behind the scenes to sign Egan-Riley as a busy summer window officially opens for business.
Brownhill was the standout performer of Burnley’s promotion campaign. But Egan-Riley was very much the breakout star.
West Ham get major Burnley double deal hope
The England Under-21 international was a massive presence at the heart of a backline breached just 16 times in 46 matches.
For context, at one point last season – albeit at Premier League level – West Ham shipped that number of goals in a handful of matches.
Burnley released their official ‘retained list’ last week, Brownhill and Egan-Riley were not on it as the Clarets confirmed talks are ongoing with both about new deals.
Now the actions of Parker and the players themselves suggests West Ham have real hope of landing two of the top free agents on the market this summer.
Parker looks resigned to losing star with new move
Two separate reports have made huge claims which suggest the door is now very much ajar for the Hammers to land Brownhill and Egan-Riley.
Mail Sport claim West Ham are in ‘active negotiations with both players’ in a bid to convince them to make a move to the London Stadium this summer.
And both have asked for more time to make their final decisions as Burnley plead with them to stay.
Meanwhile journalist Alan Nixon claims Parker may already be resigned to losing Brownhill.
Because he states Burnley are preparing a move for Welsh midfielder Jordan James in anticipation that Brownhill quits Turf Moor amid the talks with the Hammers.
Nixon says Burnley have set up a swoop for young James who was snapped up from Birmingham by French side Rennes and is available for £12m.
If West Ham can pull off the signings of both Brownhill and Egan-Riley it would massively ease pressure on the rest of the window for the Hammers.
The club has already shipped six players off the wage bill and it could become seven if Michail Antonio is not retained.
West Ham are planning to sell the likes of Mohammed Kudus for big money to offset against paid-for acquisitions.
Solving two major issues by bringing in Brownhill and Egan-Riley for nothing would be the perfect start to the summer for Potter.
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