EXCLUSIVE: Leicester monitoring Josh Brownhill situation at Burnley as Foxes eye free summer transfer for midfielder with player yet to sign new contract on current deal which expires at the end of the season
Leicester City are keeping tabs on Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill and his current situation. The Foxes are currently leading the way at the top of the Championship and they will hope that despite a recent wobble, they can push on and return to the top flight.
Whether or not Leicester go up to the Premier League, they will be facing a tricky summer, as a possible points deduction and restriction on spending looms.
Enzo Maresca and the Leicester hierarchy will need to be smart in the business they do, with low-cost moves one way to see the club still make adequate signings.
One player who could fit into that category is Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill, who is coming to the end of his contract at Turf Moor, with the club do having a one-year option to extend.
Brownhill has been at Turf Moor since January 2020, when he joined the club from Bristol City under former manager Sean Dyche.
The 28-year-old was an important player at Ashton Gate, and that has continued in a Burnley shirt, with Brownhill playing over 100 times in the Premier League for the Clarets and being key in their title-winning campaign in the Championship last season.
Brownhill has been a continued presence in Burnley’s midfield this season as the club tries to beat the drop and return to the second tier.
The midfielder has captained the Lancashire side for the majority of their league games this season but is now facing an uncertain future, as he signed a four-year contract when he joined the club and that expires at the end of the campaign. So, with no new deal being agreed, Brownhill could become a free agent if Burnley don’t trigger the one-year option that is in his contract, but could still be the perfect addition for a team like Leicester.
Brownhill is not unknown to Leicester City, as it was reported since December last year, that the Foxes were keeping an eye on the midfielder’s situation. At that time, it was stated that Burnley valued Brownhill at around the £20 million mark it is now March and unless a new contract is agreed, the midfielder will be leaving Turf Moor for nothing.
The Foxes will want to keep a close eye on how things develop at the Lancashire club, as Brownhill could be a very good addition for them, especially as he will cost next to nothing, something that Leicester fans may need to get used to.
However, Burnley could still trigger the one-year option in his contract and that means the Foxes would have to pay for Brownhill instead of it being a free transfer. But, it could be a very small fee, which would still suit Leicester.
The 28-year-old has shown that he has great quality in the Championship, but more importantly, he has adapted well to the Premier League and would be a very good player to have in their squad.
This season, Brownhill has got three goals and one assist in 26 league games, in what has been a poor campaign for the Clarets.
