Burnley will trigger the extension clause in Josh Brownhill’s contract to stop the midfielder leaving on a free transfer amid interest from Premier League rivals West Ham United, Brentford and Crystal Palace.
EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
HITC understands that the former Manchester United youngster, who is due to become a free agent in his contract, has caught the eye of a number of top-flight sides even during a miserable campaign for Vincent Kompany’s side.
There is interest from Crystal Palace and Brentford in Josh Brownhill. West Ham United, meanwhile, are again chasing a midfielder who turned down David Moyes’ side back in January 2020 before sealing a £9 million move from Bristol City to Burnley.
We understand that The Clarets have, however, informed Brownhill that they will take up the option to extend his contract. As a result, this means any club looking to snap up the long-serving 28-year-old in the summer will have to part with a transfer fee.
West Ham United back in for Josh Brownhill
Warrington-born Brownhill has been one of Burnley’s few stand-out performers in 2023/24. He has captained Kompany’s team on a number of occasions, scored against Arsenal and also provided assists against both Liverpool and Chelsea.
“My heart was set on Burnley,” Brownhill told the Daily Star back in 2020, explaining his decision to choose one claret-and-blue-clad club over another at a time in which Burnley, having just beaten Man United at Old Trafford, were seven points ahead of West Ham in the table.
“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.”
There is interest from Championship promotion chasers Leicester City and Southampton in Brownhill too. If a departure does indeed happen, Burnley may look at Rapid Vienna’s Mathias Seidl as a replacement.
Burnley near Shurandy Sambo deal with PSV Eindhoven
HITC have also been told that Burnley are already planning for next season, with a return to the Championship likely. Sources have confirmed to us that a deal is in place to bring in Shurandy Sambo from PSV Eindhoven.
The 22-year-old right-back, capped by the Netherlands at Under 21 level, has struggled to force his way into a PSV side cruising to the Eredivisie title under Peter Bosz.
It remains to be seen what Sambo’s arrival means for Connor Roberts, another right-sided full-back who was farmed out on loan to Leeds United in the winter.
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