West Ham United has been connected to Burnley players Josh Brownhill and CJ Egan-Riley.
These two players were crucial to Scott Parker’s Clarets’ 100-point winning promotion campaign the previous season. With 18 goals, Brownhill led the squad from midfield, and Egan-Riley and his defenders made headlines as one of the greatest defences in second division ever.
| Burnley’s 24/25 Championship defensive record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Metric | Number | League rank |
| Goals conceded | 16 | 1st |
| Clean sheets | 30 | 1st |
| Expected goals against | 39.1 | 2nd |
| Source: FBRef | ||
It should come as no surprise that clubs are interested in signing the two, whose contracts expire this summer, given that they only gave up 16 goals in 46 league games. They are negotiating new agreements with Burnley, but neither party has reached an agreement as of yet.
Egan-Riley, a graduate of Manchester City’s academy, has reportedly agreed to join Liam Rosenior’s RC Strasbourg. However, according to Football Insider, the 22-year-old defender is on West Ham’s watchlist along with Brownhill, who is also attracting interest from Everton, as revealed by the Daily Mail.
Burnley is advised to spend a fortune in order to retain Josh Brownhill and CJ Egan-Riley.
Don Goodman, a Sky Sports analyst, stated that Burnley would suffer a great loss if they were unable to retain the two. The former EFL striker, who saw them play for the Clarets a lot last season, told Football League World in an exclusive interview that the club’s management should give the two as much money as possible to keep them at Turf Moor.
“I’m not really surprised,” Goodman stated in reference to West Ham’s interest in the two players. “How could you be taken by surprise? Josh Brownhill was a captain and a leader on the pitch in addition to scoring a staggering number of goals for Burnley.
Because James Trafford and Esteve garnered so many headlines, CJ Egan-Riley, who was a part of a record-breaking Championship defence, mainly went unappreciated. “This player, in my opinion, is greatly underappreciated. I would go to great lengths financially to retain these two players if I were Burnley.
Burnley will struggle to keep up without Brownhill and Egan-Riley.
It’s one thing for promoted clubs to sell their top players on their way up. It’s a very different situation when they depart for free. If Egan-Riley leaves, the Clarets will be entitled to some training compensation from the team he joins, although it will most likely be far less than his actual value.
Parker would not receive much in return for reinvesting in this team, which need significant improvement if they are to achieve what they failed to do under Vincent Kompany and remain in the Premier League after a 100-point season.
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