Burnley is reportedly ready to activate the additional year option in Josh Brownhill’s contract at Turf Moor to ward off interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United, Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth. The 27-year-old has been a consistent presence in Burnley’s midfield this season, making 11 Premier League appearances and scoring twice.
Amid Vincent Kompany’s efforts to integrate new arrivals unfamiliar with English football, Brownhill stands out as one of the team’s more seasoned players, having played two full seasons in the top flight for the club from 2020 to 2022. In the previous campaign, he featured in 41 games as Burnley secured the Championship title, scoring seven goals and providing eight assists.
To deter potential suitors in January and the following summer, Burnley is reportedly taking a significant step by activating the extra year’s option in Brownhill’s contract, securing his commitment until the summer of 2025.
With Brownhill’s current contract set to expire at the end of the 2023-24 season, several clubs, including Wolves and West Ham, have been keeping an eye on his situation, hoping to acquire his services on a free transfer.
West Ham, in particular, is seeking midfield reinforcements after the departure of Matheus Nunes to Manchester City for £53m in the summer. Despite adding James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez, the Hammers remain interested in Brownhill, even as they compete on both domestic and continental fronts.
Another report from TEAMtalk suggests that Bournemouth and Crystal Palace are also in the race to secure the midfielder, with Bournemouth looking to add Premier League experience after a challenging start to their campaign.
Although Brownhill faced exclusion from Burnley’s starting lineup early in the season, he has fought his way back into the team despite the stiff competition in the engine room. Despite his goal against Arsenal at the Emirates, Burnley’s losing streak extended to six matches in all competitions before the international break.
Currently residing at the bottom of the Premier League standings with only four points from 12 matches, Burnley faces West Ham in their upcoming fixture on Saturday afternoon.