Exclusive: Italian giants now make move to secure free transfer who Celtic and Rangers will also send offer to
12/29/2024 09:45 AM
TBR Football understand Fiorentina and Lazio have made moves to sign Josh Brownhill – who Celtic and Rangers also want.
The Burnley No.8 sees his contract at Turf Moor expire in June, and while the Clarets have offered their captain a new deal, there is pessimism over whether he will sign it.
Josh Brownhill has made 22 appearances in the Championship so far this season – scoring nine goals from central midfield while also providing three assists.
As a result of his contract situation, a number of English clubs are keen to tempt the 29-year-old away from Lancashire, although two clubs in Italy have actually now made early moves to secure his signature.
Fiorentina and Lazio make pre-contract offers to Josh Brownhill
Sources have now informed Graeme Bailey – Chief Correspondent at TBR Football – that Fiorentina and Lazio have offered the man from Warrington a contract.
Clubs outside of England are able to strike a pre-contract agreement with Brownhill, who Marcelo Bielsa admired, ahead of his deal expiring in the summer, and after following him for months, the Serie A duo have now made their move.
The aforementioned Everton and West Ham will therefore have to wait until the summer before they too can make a concrete offer – as will Crystal Palace, Brentford and Leeds United who are also keen.
TBR Football have also been told that Celtic and Rangers want Brownhill, and seeing as the Scottish giants are located outside of England, they can make a pre-contract offer too, something both are believed to be ready to do.
Sources add that Bologna, Udinese, Trabzonspor and Besiktas are monitoring the situation along with the aforementioned clubs – with the latter even holding talks.
Celtic, Rangers, West Ham and Everton target once described as a “superstar in the making”
Brownhill begins his thirties next December, but he was once described as a “superstar in the making” by Lee Johnson while at Bristol City.
The 43-year-old said: “First and foremost, Josh is just an unbelievable lad. He's been a very good student. I took him on loan to Barnsley and could see a superstar in the making. He can tackle, he can get up and down, he's bright with his football brain.
“He's got a goal in him, he has good set-piece delivery and freekicks from the edge of the box. He's the first in and last out – every day he comes in and tries to get better. He must go down as one of the best value signings in Bristol City's history.”
This potential has led Brownhill to become captain of Burnley and a respected figure across the English Football League – hence the vast amount of interest in his services from clubs inside and outside of the United Kingdom.
