Bolton Wanderers would be able to land the West Ham United defender ahead of Barnsley, Derby County, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United and Sunderland.
Alan Irvine has admitted Reece Burke could still leave West Ham United this month, amid links to Barnsley, Bolton Wanderers, Derby County, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United and Sunderland [Daily Mirror].
However, FIFA rules mean that only one of those suitors, Bolton, are actually in with a shout of signing the Hammers defender during the current transfer window.
Burke made 15 appearances while on loan to Wanderers earlier this season, but having played in West Ham’s FA Cup third round draw against Shrewsbury Town at the start of January, the 21-year-old cannot turn out for a third club until 1st July 2018.
It means that should Burke be deemed surplus to requirements by Irons boss David Moyes this month, his only other hope of playing first team football this season would be back at Bolton – regardless of any interest from Barnsley, Derby, Forest, Sheffield United or Sunderland.
The same applies, too, for Josh Cullen, with the midfielder having also appeared for West Ham and Bolton this season.
“We wanted them to come back, and we needed them to come back because of the situation prior to the first game,” Hammers coach Irvine told the club’s official website ahead of their replay against Shrewsbury on Tuesday. “The two of them have impressed us since they’ve been back.
“[But] we don’t want to stop their development either. If we feel they won’t get sufficient time for us, and we can afford to do it because senior players will be involved instead, we will look at that.
“The boys are aware we aren’t going to keep them here and sit them in the stands.”
By playing Burke, have West Ham dealt a blow to Barnsley, Derby County, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United and Sunderland?
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