Exclusive: West Ham could finally sign £9m captain who snubbed Moyes in 2020, Fulham also eye potential freebie

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Burnley are struggling to tie Josh Brownhill down to a new contract as West Ham United, Fulham and Brighton consider taking the midfielder back to the Premier League.

• Exclusive from Graeme Bailey

With five goals from just 16 appearances this season, Burnley’s number eight needs just three more to make 2024/25 the most prolific season of his entire career.

Whether he sees out the remainder of the current campaign at Turf Moor, however, only time will tell.

With Josh Brownhill in such fine form, and with his contract expiring during the summer of 2025, Burnley face a battle hanging onto their most influential performer as the January transfer window looms into view.

TBR can report that West Ham United – the Hammers are long-time admirers of Brownhill – are in the mix again. Fulham and Brighton and Hove Albion are both in contention too.

And Burnley, fully aware of interest not only from the Premier League but also abroad, are finding that agreeing fresh terms with the Warrington-born 28-year-old is easier said than done.

West Ham and Fulham eye Josh Brownhill’s situation at Burnley

Brownhill, who captains Burnley these days, will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement in January. The Clarets may also have to decide whether to cash in on their skipper midway through the campaign, or risk losing him for free the following summer.

In addition to West Ham, Fulham and Brighton, TBR have been informed that clubs in Italy, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are also circling. Brownhill is giving serious consideration to a fresh start outside of the UK.

Serie A trio Torino, Fiorentina and Lazio are ready to put a contract on the table. And with Fiorentina and Lazio challenging at the top of the Italian league, there is a genuine chance that Brownhill could swap the Championship for the Champions League in 2025.

Rangers, Celtic and Leeds United are keen too, albeit they would be negotiating from a position of lesser strength. Scottish giants Rangers and Celtic would struggle financially against clubs with far deeper pockets, while Leeds know Brownhill is unlikely to swap one second-tier club for another mid-season.

Brownhill turned down West Ham before joining Burnley

Burnley snapped up Brownhill in a £9 million deal from Bristol City nearly five years ago.

Interestingly, the Manchester United academy graduate turned down West Ham at the time, David Moyes’ relegation-threatened Hammers struggling towards the bottom of the table during a season in which Sean Dyche would guide Burnley to tenth.

"My heart was set on Burnley," Brownhill told the Daily Star, explaining his decision to choose one claret-and-blue-clad club over another. "We were in talks for a couple of weeks and I knew it was the right place.

“West Ham is a big club as well but, in January, Burnley were a lot safer in the table. For me, it was about being in the Premier League and Burnley just ticked every box." 

West Ham have struggled in the centre of the park throughout the ill-fated Julen Lopetegui era; the sluggish Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez chasing shadows. Brownhill would add some much-needed energy and mobility, though his arrival could come too late with former Real Madrid boss Lopetegui under serious pressure at West Ham.

Fulham, meanwhile, have already raided Burnley once this season. Sander Berge swapped Turf Moor for Craven Cottage in August.