Burnley will return to the Premier League determined to stay there for the long term, with Scott Parker also having much to show as a top-flight manager.
Parker has now impressively secured three promotions to the big time on his managerial CV, but he has never looked like the most comfortable figure plying his trade in the top-flight away from the Championship, with a miserable 30 defeats to his name when managing at the elite level.
He will undoubtedly be eager to prove all of his doubters wrong from the Turf Moor hot-seat, but he will be acutely aware that any chance he has of establishing himself as a top manager at the level would be dependent on the newly promoted club retaining players like Josh Brownhill around.
Why Burnley should keep Brownhill
Jumping up a division and staying there will be a difficult task for Burnley, especially given the continuous fate of every newly promoted side that triumphantly tastes promotion and promptly returns to the EFL.
That’s before you consider the awful possibility that Burnley will lose a major percentage of their promotion-winning heroes this offseason, with 18-goal sensation Brownhill reportedly on the summer shopping lists of Everton and West Ham United.
Losing their beloved captain to a top-tier opponent would be terrible for Parker’s side, as Brownhill’s 18 goals and six assists in 44 league games have surely played a significant role in Burnley’s return to the top level.
The in-demand 29-year-old has previously demonstrated his ability to perform at a higher level, with six Premier League goals and six assists to his name, suggesting he may be the steadying presence the Lancashire side requires to ensure survival.
Away from Brownhill, Burnley will need to retain their fearsome defence in place to avoid relegation, with one stern Clarets defender now worth more than the electric midfielder following a breakout promotion season.
The “exceptional” Burnley star is worth more than Brownhill.
Remarkably, Burnley only conceded 16 goals during the course of 46 games, putting first-choice goalkeeper James Trafford on Newcastle United’s radar.
He isn’t the only defensive hero being pursued by a bigger bidder, with Crystal Palace apparently keeping an eye on Clarets number 16 Maxime Esteve, after the French colossus looked nearly flawless all season alongside Trafford.
Esteve, a former Montpellier player, would justifiably be named to the Championship team of the season, as he was both a superb performer with the ball (60.5 accurate passes per league game) and a powerful presence when needed, keeping a staggering 30 clean sheets.
Unsurprisingly, after such a strong individual season alongside his standout colleagues, Esteve’s transfer worth has skyrocketed, with Burnley undoubtedly getting a steal when they paid about £12.5 million for the 22-year-old last year.
| Esteve’s league numbers for Burnley (24/25) | |
|---|---|
| Stat – per 90 mins* | Esteve |
| Games played | 46 |
| Goals scored | 1 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Touches* | 78.0 |
| Accurate passes* | 60.5 (91%) |
| Ball recoveries* | 3.7 |
| Clearances* | 5.0 |
| Total duels won* | 3.6 |
| Clean sheets | 30 |
| Transfer value when joining | £12.5m |
| Transfer value now | £19.3m |
| Stats by Sofascore | |
According to Football Transfers, the in-demand centre-back is now worth a significantly higher £19.3 million, with Brownhill’s own value of £9.6 million falling far short of Esteve’s increased appraisal.
As a result, an expensive offer will most likely be required for Burnley to consider parting ways with their “exceptional” centre-back, as Parker has previously described him.
Jacek Kulig, a football talent scout, has also described him as having “undeniable” Premier League potential. It will be interesting to see if he becomes an even more dominant defender next season, whether for Parker’s team, Oliver Glasner’s Eagles, or elsewhere.
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