It’s funny how things work out.
Not that you’ll find many Burnley supporters cracking a smile, theat heart-wrenching relegation from the Premier League still too soon and too raw for even the darkest examples of ‘Gallows Humour’.
Upon completing his £9 million move from Bristol City in January 2020, Josh Brownhill was at pains to point out that, when choosing between one claret-and-blue clad club and another, Turf Moor felt like the most stable destination as fissures threatened to tear through the foundations at the London Stadium yet again.
“My heart was set on Burnley,” Brownhill told the Daily Star (5th July 2020, page 42).
“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.”
Will West Ham finally land Josh Brownhill?
Last week, Burnley’s six-season stay in the top-flight came to an end. On the same, Sunday afternoon, West Ham sealed European qualification, albeit not via tournament they really wanted.
The two clubs have certainly gone their separate ways since Brownhill touched down in Lancashire two-and-a-half years ago.
West Ham were outside of the relegation zone on goal difference alone at the time, four places and seven points adrift of Sean Dyche’s perennial overachievers.
Now, with Burnley looking ahead with minimal enthusiasm to those Tuesday nights in to Bristol, Luton and Reading, West Ham are putting plans in place as the look to maintain the remarkable progression they have made during Moyes’ second spell at the helm.
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A new, all-action central midfielder is a priority, regardless of whether or not Declan Rice stays or goes.
According to 90Min, the Hammers have been scouting Brownhill extensively over the last 18 months with a £15 million bid in the pipeline.
And, following Burnley’s final day demise, one would imagine Brownhill will feel very differently about a move to West Ham United these days.
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