Burnley Opinion: Clarets should look at Bolton prodigy Harry Brockbank as one for the future
According to Lancashire Telegraph, Burnley have been credited with an interest in out-of-contract Bolton Wanderers youngster Harry Brockbank, with reports claiming that the Clarets are keen to take the 20-year-old emerging prospect to Turf Moor as one for the future.
A youth product of Bolton, Brockbank made a solitary appearance on his loan spell at Salford City in the National League last season before breaking into the first-team at his boyhood club.
The 20-year-old made 3 appearances for Bolton Wanderers towards the end of a troubled season in the Championship which eventually ended in relegation to League One. Lancashire Telegraph understands that the Trotters are under dire financial stress at the moment and a takeover is set to be finalised in the weeks to come.
Bolton’s new owners will be under pressure to act quickly in order to secure the future of some of the talented youngsters at the club, including the likes of Harry Brockbank and Luca Connell, with the latter also attracting interest from Burnley, Celtic and a host of other Premier League clubs. (h/t Lancashire Telegraph)
Brockbank made his senior first-team for Bolton as a starter in a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Aston Villa in the Championship back in April.
The 20-year-old showed strong signs of promise on his debut, despite Bolton crumbling to a defeat. That was enough for manager Phil Parkinson to hand the defender another start in the next game against Blackburn, which also ended in a 2-0 defeat for the Trotters.
The homegrown prodigy made yet another start in a 1-0 defeat away at Nottingham Forest in the final game of the campaign and capped off his breakthrough season with another impressive performance.
One would expect the 20-year-old to play a more significant role for the Trotters in League One next term, although a move to the Premier League certainly doesn’t seem beyond the realms of possibility, with Burnley weighing up a move for him.
Regarded as a fine young player with loads of potential, Brockbank is noted for his versatility to play in multiple positions across the backline. The 20-year-old featured as a right-back for Bolton in the Championship this past season but he is also capable of playing as a central defender and as a holding midfielder.
To put things into perspective, Burnley have always prioritised signing homegrown domestic players in the transfer window and the Clarets’ links to the promising 20-year-old Bolton prodigy shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to the fans at Turf Moor.
Sean Dyche always favours bringing in players who have honed their skills in English football and Brockbank certainly fits the bill.
Burnley already have a strong defensive unit and it looks unlikely that the 20-year-old would go on to play a significant role in the Premier League for the Clarets next term. In all probability, he would initially go into the U-23 side, where it will be up to him to prove his worth and break into the first-team in the years to come.
If a move does materialize, Burnley might as well look to arrange a loan deal for the youngster next season to allow him to further his development with regular first-team exposure. Brockbank only played a handful of games in the Championship last term and he certainly needs a lot more time to be ready for the Premier League.
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All in all, Brockbank is a talented player but he is one for the future, and snapping him up for free could prove to be a piece of smart and risk-free business for the Clarets.
