Brentford manager Dean Smith will be a busy man this summer. Finishing in the 9th spot in the previous campaign wasn’t bad but the club must now aim for playoff places. With that target, they need to bring in new faces.
In recent times, Brentford have been linked with a move to sign Shamrock Rovers star Graham Burke. The 24-year-old scored 9 times in 16 appearances last season as his contributions helped his club secure a 5th-place finish.
Burke made his debut for the Republic of Ireland against France earlier in May. He then scored his first international goal against the United States in a 2-1 win in Dublin.
Even though the Bees scored 62 goals in the last campaign, they will be hoping for more the next time around. Neal Maupay was their top scorer during the 17/18 season with 13 goals, while Ollie Watkins scored 11. Florian Jozefzoon and Lasse Vibe both scored 7 each to add to the total. In such a situation, the addition of Burke does not make sense.
Usually, clubs are precarious about players arriving directly from Ireland as the quality is never good enough. But some players have arrived over the Irish Sea before and made huge impacts, so when it comes to Burke, only time will tell.
Interestingly enough, Burke has played in England before. He started his youth career in Ireland before being a part of Aston Villa’s youth system. He has also played for Shrewsbury Town and Nottingham County, totalling 46 league appearances in England over seven seasons.
That said, given his scintillating form, Smith should consider Burke as a striking option. Increasing their goal tally must be a priority for the club next season and the Irish sensation could go a long way in helping them achieve success.
Hence, Dean Smith must sign this up-and-coming Irishman to bring about greater power and creativity up front.