[West Ham](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-silly-season-is-officially-open-sort-of/) bargain hunting on the ‘clearance’ aisles of footballs equivalent of TKMaxx is hardly the promised brave new world of Potter and Macaulay.
Whilst Hammers’ fans have been promised ‘data driven’ recruitment, it will be unfortunate if the first deal done this summer is of a modestly inspiring free transfer: However, if the squad is stronger as a result then it could be seen as sensible business.
Josh Brownhill is widely reported as dragging his feet over a new deal at Burnley, somewhat surprisingly as club captain and having just achieved promotion from the Championship. According to today’s Sun newspaper, the 29 year old and his club cannot agree terms – with West Ham known admirers it may well be that there is an opportunity for the Irons to pick up the midfielder on a free transfer.
The departure of several players from the club frees up big bucks on the paydroll, meaning the Hammers will have no problem offering Brownhill an improvement on his Burnley package: £45k a week is less than ‘Cornet’ cash.
Most West Ham fans will be agog with indifference at the prospect of signing the almost 30-year old. As an improvement for ‘free’, described by _[namuwiki](https://en.namu.wiki/w/조시%20브라운힐)_ as a _“box-to-box midfielder_ _who runs all over the field based on his abundant activity and strong physical strength,”_ Brownhill would certainly be an upgrade on Guido Rodriguez without having to eat into a modest transfer budget: If the stories are correct that Rodriguez is going to sell for close to £10 million then, dispassionately, it is probably good business to bring in a faster midfielder with goals in him, without being out of pocket.
18 goals as well – albeit in the Championship – means that grudgingly, most would admit that as a squad upgrade, with some pretty decent leadership skills in the middle of the pitch which have been visibly absent this season, Josh Brownhill on a ‘free’ would be a sensible if not eye-catching deal.
In the meantime, bring on the twenty year-olds and wonderkids, please!