Burnley Opinion: Clarets should sign Harrison Reed to increase competition for places in the midfield
According to the Daily Mail, Burnley are interested in signing Southampton midfielder Harrison Reed this summer, with reports claiming that the 24-year-old’s good run of form on loan at Blackburn Rovers in the Championship has piqued the interest of Clarets boss Sean Dyche.
The Daily Mail also understands that newly-promoted outfit Norwich City are also keen on bringing the versatile midfielder back to Carrow Road in a bid to add more depth to their squad.
Reed impressed on his loan spell at Blackburn in the second-tier this past season and was one of the most influential performers for Tony Mowbray’s side, as the Ewood Park-outfit finished 15th in the Championship.
The 24-year-old contributed with a total of 3 goals and 5 assists in 33 Championship outings this past season, earning rave reviews for his versatility and consistently impressive performances in the process.
Prior to his loan spell at Blackburn, Reed spent the 2017-18 season on loan at Norwich City in the second-tier, where he featured both in his preferred central midfield role and also as a right wing-back. And it is understood that the Canaries are weighing up a move to bring the out-of-favour star to Carrow Road once again this summer.
A youth product of Southampton, Reed was tipped for great things as a youngster but he hasn’t quite gone on to fulfil his promise at St.Mary’s, managing only 30 appearances for the Saints in all competitions since making his debut back in the 2013-14 season.
Reed continues to be a flamboyant and versatile midfielder but he is no longer a promising youngster and Southampton need to make a call on his future sooner rather than later.
Reed, 24, is at a stage in his career where he should be entering his prime years and given the level of competition for places in the middle of the park at Southampton, it is highly unlikely that he would feature in manager Ralph Hasenhuttl’s plans for the upcoming season.
He as already been deemed surplus to demands at St.Mary’s and a permanent move away from his boyhood club should help him attain a degree of stability in his career. He has had consecutive loan stints at Norwich and Blackburn in the Championship and at 24, it is high time for him to settle down at a particular club if he really wants to make a name for himself in the Premier League.
Essentially a central midfielder by trade, Reed is also capable of playing in a box-to-box role on the right and left in the midfield. He has also been used to good effect as a defensive midfielder and as a wing-back down the right-hand side of the pitch, meaning that he is a highly versatile and dynamic footballer who can add a lot of value to any Premier League side.
Noted for his fluent passing, technical abilities on the ball and uncompromised work-rate, Reed is not only a tireless worker in central midfield but he is also adept at dealing with the transitions in play.
The 24-year-old excels with his ability to cut out attacks with crucial tackles and interceptions, whilst also possessing the creativity and vision to break the opposition’s lines. All in all, he is very much capable of shouldering both attacking and defensive responsibilities and a player of his calibre certainly provides cover in multiple areas of the pitch.
To put things into perspective, it should be an absolute no-brainer for Burnley to go all out in their pursuit of the former England youth international this summer, given that the Clarets need more quality in their midfield ranks to achieve better things in the Premier League.
Sean Dyche’s side managed to beat the drop quite comfortably this past season after some nervy moments but they need to look for upgrades in all areas of the pitch.
Burnley are currently not crying out for reinforcements in central midfield, with the likes of Jack Cork, Jeff Hendricks, Ashley Westwood and Steven Defour in their ranks.
Cork and Westwood did a pretty decent job in the No.6 role last term, while Hendricks chipped in with 3 goals in the Premier League from a more advanced No.8 role. Defour, on the other hand, struggled for form and fitness and question marks continue to linger over the Belgian’s future at Turf Moor.
The Clarets have the versatility of Robbie Brady in their ranks but they can certainly do with another quality midfielder like Harrison Reed. Having already proven his credentials in the Championship, Reed deserves a chance to play regularly in the Premier League and Burnley could have a gem on their hands if he goes on to fulfil his promise at Turf Moor.
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His aggression and high-intensity style of play would add another dimension to Burnley’s midfield and there is no reason why the Clarets shouldn’t swoop for him.
Having said that, the Clarets should look to try and beat off competition from Norwich City in their pursuit of the highly-rated Southampton academy graduate.
