“We can’t lose him in January, to lose him in January would really hamper our promotion chances, it’s non-negotiable”- Pundit names Burnley player club must keep in January inorder to keep promotion hopes alive

Burnley will be targeting automatic promotion straight back to the Premier League this year, and they’ve made a great start to achieving their goals.

The Clarets have made a positive start to the campaign, but the January transfer window could throw up some major surprises that impact the end of the term.

The Lancashire outfit will already be planning for any potential activity in the winter market, especially given how close it is at the top of the Championship table. Scott Parker will be hoping to strengthen his squad, while avoiding losing any of his key players, as he targets a third promotion to the Premier League in his managerial career.

The coming weeks will also be crucial for Burnley, as they will want to enter the January window in a strong position in the table to help any possible business plans. When asked which player the club absolutely must keep in January, FLW’s Burnley fan pundit Nathan Rogers named Maxime Esteve as the standout candidate.

He believes the defender, who only arrived at Turf Moor less than a year ago, is crucial to their promotion push, and has suggested the Burnley hierarchy must do everything in its power to ensure he stays until at least the summer.

“I think Maxime Esteve,” Rogers told Football League World.

“We can’t lose him in January – it’s just a non-negotiable.

“He’s sort of crucial to our defensive solidity.

“His ceiling ability is through the roof.

“I’m accepting the fact that we are going to lose him at some point because he’s such an exceptional talent, and his skill level exceeds Burnley.

“But to lose him in January would really hamper our promotion chances.

“It could potentially derail our season, to be honest.

“Come January, we need to get to the end 3rd of February and Maxime Esteve needs to be a Burnley player still.

“It’s no question, I think.

“Even if we have to offer him a new contract or something (despite signing a new one in September), if we have to do something to keep him at the club until the end of the season at the very least then we have to do that.

“He’s that pivotal to our season.”

Esteve initially joined Burnley in the January transfer window last season on loan from Montpellier before completing a permanent move during the summer.

The centre-back has been a key figure and consistent presence in Parker’s side so far this season, with the team chasing automatic promotion. The 22-year-old has a contract with the Clarets until the summer of 2029, meaning the club has a lot of leverage in any potential transfer negotiations.

Keeping him could prove crucial to their fight for a top two spot, with Burnley having the best defensive record in the division so far this season.