Why Josh Brownhill would be a perfection addition to Dyche’s Burnley

According to Daily Mail, Burnley have held talks over a £7m deal for Bristol City midfielder Josh Brownhill.

Brownhill, 24, came through the ranks of Preston North End’s youth system before featuring for Barnsley on a loan deal. He then switched to Bristol City in the summer of 2016 and has been impressive for his side this season.

He has been an ever-present member in the heart of Bristol’s midfield for the past two seasons and has continued it well into this campaign with excellent displays so far.

Burnley, meanwhile, have been poor this season and are currently 15^th in the table in England’s top-tier. A 3-0 loss to Chelsea at the weekend has further added to their humiliation, as Sean Dyche’s men have lost all of their last for league games.

The Clarets have managed to win just 7 games so far out of 22, leaving them just 3 points away from the relegation zone. And with inconsistent performances throughout the campaign, the Clarets might end up in a difficult position at the end of the season.

They have scored just 24 in the league this term, with 8 of them coming from their striker Chris Wood. And without proper service from the central players, they have not matched the standards of the Premier League and are in a dangerous position.

One of the key reasons for their downfall is the inconsistency in their midfield. The manager has just four midfielders available at his disposal in Jack Cork, Ashley Westwood, Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady. Whereas, most of the teams in the top-flight have numerous midfield options.

Therefore, the manager should prioritize bolstering his central options and with games coming thick and fast, it is not going be an easy task with limited options in hand.

In that regard, Bristol’s Josh Brownhill would be a suitable option as he fits the bill perfectly and his inclusion would allow the manager to have an extra option, helping him in the rotation policy.

Brownhill has been a consistent member for Lee Johnson’s side and has already made an impression in the second-tier by contributing with 5 goals and 2 assists so far.

The 24-year-old is a central midfielder by trade but is also capable of playing higher up the pitch. He has also shown his qualities in the deep-lying positions for the Robins and his versatility could be more than just useful for the Clarets.

The Englishman has registered 1.2 shots, 1.4 key passes and 0.7 dribbles per game this season, which is not a mean feat for a player who has also featured in a defensive role.

He has averaged 1.8 tackles and 1.5 clearances too from a deeper position, according to Whoscored. And he could be the much-needed quality player Dyche would need in his team.

Read more

• Why Burnley should let Gibson go on loan rather than keep him
• Why signing Scott Mckenna would be a great move by Burnley
• Why Burnley must plot a swoop for Crystal Palace’s James McCarthy

Verdict

Burnley can benefit by acquiring an all-round player like Brownhill as he will definitely bolster Dyche’s midfield. He is precisely the type of player who can carry out the workload at Turf Moor.

Therefore, the Clarets must push hard for his signature and if a deal goes through, the Englishman could be the one to lift their spirit in the remaining games.