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West Ham could finally sign £9m captain years after David Moyes snub as Fulham eye freebie

Burnley are struggling to tie Josh Brownhill down to a new contract as West Ham United, Fulham and Brighton consider taking the midfielder back to the Premier League.

With five goals from just 16🅠 appearances this season, Burnley’s number eight needs just three more to make 2024/25 the most ♑prolific season of his entire career.

Whether he se𒐪es out the remainder of the current ca👍mpaign at Turf Moor, however, only time will tell.

With Josh Brownhill in such fine form, and with his contract expiring during the summer of 2025, Burnley face a battle hanging onto their most influential performer as the January 🐈transfer window looms into view.

TBR can report that West Ham United – the Hammers are long-time admirers of Brownhill ▨– are in the mix again. Fulham and Brighton and Hove Albion are both in contention too.

And Burnley, fully aware of interest not only from the Premier League but also꧋ abroad, are finding that agreeing fresh terms with the Warrington-born 28-year-old is easier said than done.

Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts/Getty Images
Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts/Getty Images

West Ham and Fulham eye Josh Brownhill’s situation at Burnley

Brownhill, who captains Burnley these days,🉐 will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement in January. The Clarets m🃏ay also have to decide whether to cash in on their skipper midway through the campaign, or risk losing him for free the following summer.

In addition to West Ham, Fulham and Brighton, TBR have been informed that clubs in Italy, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are also circling. Brownhill is giving serious conside🍒ration to a fresh start outside of the UK.

Serie A trio Torino, Fiorentina ☂and Lazio are ready to put a contract on the table. And with Fiorentina and Lazio challenging at the top of the Itali෴an league, there is a genuine chance that Brownhill could swap the Championship for the Champions League in 2025.

Rangers, Celtic and Leeds United are keen too, albeit they would be negotiating from a position of lesser strength. Scottish giants Rangers and Celtic would struggle financially against clubs with far deeper pockets, while Leeds know 🃏Brownhill is unlikely to swap one second-tier club for another mid-season.

Brownhill turned down West Ham before joining Burnley

Burnley snapped up Brownhill in a £9 mౠꦜillion deal from Bristol City nearly five years ago.

Interestingly, the Manchester United academy graduate turned down West Ham at the time, David Moyes’ relegationও-threatened Hammers struggling towards the bottom of the table during a season in 🧜which Sean Dyche would guide Burnley to tenth.

“My heart was ℱset on Burnley,” Brownhill told the , expl༒aining his decision to choose one claret-and-blue-clad club over another. “We were in talks for a couple of weeks and I knew it was the right place.

“West Ham is a big club 𒈔as 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.” 

West Ham have struggled in the centre of the park throughout the ill-fated Julen Lopetegui era; the sluggish Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez chasing shadows. Brownhill would add some much-needed energy and mobility, though his arrival could come too late with former Real Madrid boss Lopetegui under ser🔜ious pressure at West Ham.

ওFulham, meanwhile, have already raided Burnley once this season. Saꦉnder Berge swapped Turf Moor for Craven Cottage in August.