John Hartson can’t understand why Oliver Burke didn’t join a team like Sunderland or West Brom.
John Hartson
Pundit and former Wales striker John Hartson has told The Scottish Sun that he can’t understand why Oliver Burke wouldn’t join Sunderland or West Brom over RB Leipzig.
Burke, 19, has become the talk of many pundits after he made an astonishing move from Nottingham Forest to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig just days before the end of the transfer window.
Oliver Burke celebrates scoring for Nottingham Forest
The teenage winger had come up through the ranks at Forest having joined the club as a child, and whilst he made 18 league appearances last season, the start of his term catapulted Burke into the spotlight.
With four goals in the first five games of the season, Burke was the star of the show for Forest, but his performances triggered major interest – and to the surprise of many, it was newly-promoted Bundesliga side RB Leipzig who snapped him up.
The deal was worth a whopping £13m according to BBC Sport, making Burke the most expensive Scottish football of all time, with many pundits suggesting it’s great to see the winger test himself abroad.
Oliver Burke in action with Brighton’s Liam Rosenior
However, John Hartson doesn’t subscribe to that particular school of thought, and has suggested to The Scottish Sun that the Premier League is the place to be for any talented player.
Hartson named Sunderland and West Brom as destinations Burke should have considered, given that The Mirror and The Sun reported their respective interest before last week’s transfer deadline.
Both missed out though, and Hartson thinks Burke’s move to Germany is driven by agents rather than the Scotland international’s real desire to make the switch.
John Hartson
“He’s gone over to Germany and I can’t understand that, to be honest with you. I think that stinks of agents more than anything else,” said Hartson. “How much German football do we all see? We see highlights of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, and that’s about it.”
“The Premier League is the place to be. I thought that was the next step for him. He’s gone to Leipzig, but what about a Burnley or a Sunderland or a West Brom? It’s only my opinion, but I think he is good enough for the Premier League. I think the Premier League would have tested him and I think that would have probably suited Gordon Strachan too. He could have had a better look at him.
Would you have liked to see Burke sign for Sunderland or West Brom?
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