Why Josh Brownhill could be an excellent signing for Burnley
According to Daily Mail, Burnley have been credited with an interest in Bristol City star Josh Brownhill, who has been in red-hot form for the Robins in the Championship this season.
The Clarets have also identified Chelsea starlet, Connor Gallagher as a potential target ahead of the mid-season trading period in January (h/t Daily Mail).
As per the report, Clarets boss Sean Dyche is keen to add more quality to his midfield ranks after the disappointing impact of loanee Danny Drinkwater. The likes of Josh Brownhill and Connor Gallagher have been earmarked as replacements.
Brownhill, who has a contract at Ashton Gate until the summer of 2021, has been instrumental in Bristol City’s surge for a playoff spot in the Championship this season. The 24-year-old former Man United trainee has started each of the Robins’ games in the second-tier so far, contributing with 5 goals and 2 assists in the process.
Born in Warrington, Brownhill spent time with Warrington Town and Man United at the youth level before turning professional with Preston North End in the League One.
The central midfielder completed a move to Bristol City in the summer of 2016 and has since carved out a reputation for himself as one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the English second-tier, accumulating 17 goals and 12 assists in 154 appearances for the Robins in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Burnley currently sit 10th in the Premier League standings after a decent first half of the campaign which has seen them pick up 7 wins from 18 games so far.
Currently nine points clear of the relegation zone, the Clarets have already laid down a strong platform for yet another mid-table finish in the Premier League this term.
To that end, Sean Dyche must bolster his ranks with some quality signings in January to aim for objectives better than just beating the drop in the Premier League.
Summer recruits Jay Rodriguez and Erik Pieters have both made a positive impact but Burnley could still do with upgrades in certain areas of the squad to add more dynamism to their one-dimensional old-school system under Dyche.
Looking at Burnley’s current squad in the Premier League, the central midfield is one area where the Clarets have some decent options but not enough creativity to bother top-quality opposition.
Defensive midfielders like Jack Cork and Ashley Westwood have certainly been a key driving force for the Clarets with their proficiency in thwarting the opposition, whilst Jeff Hendrick has been the go-to man for Dyche in an advanced No.8 role over the past three years.
Verdict
To put things into perspective, Cork, Westwood and Hendrick are all decent players perfectly suited to Dyche’s philosophy but it is a no-brainer that someone like Josh Brownhill could be a substantial upgrade on Burnley’s existing midfield options.
As per whoscored, Brownhill has averaged 48.1 passes per game at an accuracy rate of 80%, including 1.9 aerial duels, 1.7 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, 1.5 clearances, 1.2 key passes, 1 cross and 2.5 long balls per game in the Championship this term.
Bristol City might want to keep hold of their influential midfielder until the end of the season as a part of their promotion push but Burnley shouldn’t hesitate to test the Robins’ resolve with a handsome bid during the mid-season trading period.
More Burnley News
- Two key positions Burnley must strengthen in January
- Burnley Opinion: Clarets should look at Bolton prodigy Harry Brockbank as one for the future
- Burnley Opinion: Clarets should sign Harrison Reed to increase competition for places in the midfield
Suffice to say, Josh Brownhill could be the next big addition to the plethora of homegrown talents at Turf Moor.
