Football
Exclusive: Everton Push for Josh Brownhill with Lucrative £12.5m Contract Offer
Everton are urgently pursuing a deal worth £12.5 million for Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill, competing with West Ham for his signature. Despite Burnley's efforts to keep him, Brownhill is seeking a new challenge, with Everton being an appealing option. Brownhill's impressive goal-scoring record and Burnley's new recruits have made his departure more likely. Everton manager David Moyes is eager to add Brownhill to improve the team ahead of the new Premier League season.
Burnley FC v Millwall FC - Sky Bet Championship by Ben Roberts - Danehouse | Getty Images
Everton are looking to push a £12.5million deal through for Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill ahead of the start of the new Premier League season, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
Brownhill was the Clarets’ leading scorer last season and a driving force behind their memorable Championship promotion campaign.
But the 29-year-old playmaker is also wanted by West Ham with the two clubs now set to fight over his prized signature.
Brownhill has enjoyed six seasons Turf Moor and achieved two promotions with the club.
However, he turned down a new contract offer to stay in Lancashire despite the Clarets’ return to the Premier League at the first attempt.
And our sources have learnt that Brownhill is hungry for a new challenge and that a move to the Toffees is a tempting option.
Last season Brownhill played 42 games in the second tier and bagged 18 goals as Scott Parker’s ambitious side finished second behind Championship title-winners Leeds United only on goal difference.
The club won 28 of their 46 games, but having recruited ten new players already in the summer transfer window, the club are now more relaxed about letting Brownhill leave.
GOALSCORING OPTIONS
They are understood to have done everything in their power to keep one of their best players, but the arrival of attacking threats Loum Tchaouna, Marcus Edwards and Jaidon Anthony, as well as striker Zian Flemming, Parker hopes is side are well-equipped to score the goals needed to prosper in the Premier League.
Everton, meanwhile, have struggled in pre-season and manager David Moyes is desperate to bolster his squad ahead of the club’s opening league game away to promoted Leeds United at Elland Road on Monday 18th August.
The Toffees have signed four players in the window, although Carlos Alcaraz, one of them recruits, was on loan last season with the club and his deal has been made permanent.
The club’s three new signings, striker Thierno Barry, left-back Adam Aznou and shot-stopper Mark Travers, are all welcome additions, but Moyes is hungry to sign Brownhill to strengthen his midfield.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.