West Ham United’s hopes of snapping up midfielder Josh Brownhill this summer appear to have been dashed, with Burnley reportedly set to trigger the extension clause in his contract.
Despite Burnley’s struggles this season, Brownhill has been a consistent figure. The 28-year-old has racked up 30 Premier League appearances, contributing four goals and two assists. Recently, however, he has found himself behind Sander Berge and Josh Cullen in the pecking order, featuring primarily as a substitute.
Brownhill’s current contract expires at the end of the season, which previously made him an attractive free transfer target for clubs like West Ham. However, Burnley’s decision to extend his contract throws a wrench into those plans. This means any interested club will now need to pay a transfer fee to secure his services.
West Ham previously pursued Brownhill way back in January 2020, but he opted for Burnley due to the Hammers’ precarious position in the Premier League at the time. With Burnley potentially demanding a significant fee, West Ham might be priced out of a move this time around.
Having paid £9 million for Brownhill in 2020, Burnley will likely try to maximise their return on investment if they decide to sell him. Extending his contract strengthens their negotiating position and allows them to demand a higher transfer fee.
While a contract extension suggests Burnley’s desire to keep Brownhill, it remains to be seen if he’ll be content with a potentially reduced role. Whether he pushes for a move or accepts a back-up role remains to be seen.
We want him and he’s behind a player called Josh Cullen!!! Remember him? Not good enough for Moyes,
We will rise again, needs to stay put 👍