As another claret and blue club joins West Ham United in the Premier League, Scott Parker’s Burnley could suffer an almighty blow in their hopes of survival before the 2025/26 season even kicks off.
Because while West Ham are happy to move on Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell and Lukasz Fabianski – three players aged between 32 and 41 for whom the race appeared to be run at the London Stadium – July 1st remains a date which occupies the waking minds of the entire Burnley faithful.
In addition to Danny Ings and Michail Antonio, the aforementioned Coufal, Cresswell and Fabianski will officially become free agents when July begins.
So too will Josh Brownhill and CJ Egan-Riley. Two load-bearing pillars in the house that Parker built, and two of the biggest reasons why Burnley will be a Premier League team once again next term.
Two players also on the radar of West Ham United.
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
West Ham retain hope of signing Burnley duo Josh Brownhill and CJ Egan-Riley
West Ham’s interest in Brownhill goes back all the way to January 2020. The one-time Manchester United trainee turned down the Hammers in favour of making a £9 million switch to Turf Moor.
In his defence, Burnley would end up finishing that season seven places and 15 points above their similarly claret-coloured rivals.
Half a decade later, West Ham remain hot on Josh Brownhill’s heels. While already 29 years of age, and not exactly befitting West Ham’s plan to prioritise young, up-and-coming players, Brownhill is a footballer at the peak of his powers.
He captained Burnley to promotion while scoring a career-best 18 goals along the way. Graham Potter’s midfield lacks energy, tenacity and a genuine goal-threat outside Tomas Soucek. Three attributes Brownhill possesses in abundance.
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West Ham have not given up on signing CJ Egan-Riley, meanwhile. If Brownhill was the posterboy of Burnley’s campaign, then Egan-Riley was the breakout star. The England Under-21 international, once of Manchester City, was a massive presence at the heart of a backline breached just 16 times in 46 matches.
Comfortably a Championship record.
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Premier League newcomers say no contracts agreed yet with West Ham targets
Now, Burnley released their official ‘retained list’ this week. In a statement which allows Clarets fans to remain positive, while also keeping the door ajar to the London Stadium, Burnley confirmed that talks are ongoing with Brownhill and Egan-Riley even if both are due to become free-agents five weeks from now as it stands.
“Burnley Football Club’s retained list has been submitted, confirming the permanent signings of four on-loan men’s team players,” the club’s official website reveals, Jaidon Anthony, Marcus Edwards, Bashir Humphreys and Zion Flemming all joining permanently from Bournemouth, Sporting Lisbon, Chelsea and Millwall.
“Two men’s team players will depart the Club [veteran duo Jonjo Shelvey and Nathan Redmond], while negotiations are still ongoing with others.
“Discussions remain ongoing with Josh Brownhill, CJ Egan-Riley and [experienced striker] Ashley Barnes, with the trio all out of contract this summer.”
Hardly the news Burnley fans were dreading, then, but certainly not the update they were hoping for either.
“My heart was set on Burnley,” Brownhill told the Daily Star back in 2020, explaining his decision to move to Lancashire rather than London when leaving Bristol City.
“We were in talks for a couple of weeks and I knew it was the right place. West Ham is a big club as well but in January, Burnley were a lot safer in the table. For me, it was about being in the Premier League and Burnley just ticked every box.”
Brownhill will be back in the Premier League next season. Where exactly, however, only time will tell.