Burnley‘s out-of-contract defender CJ Egan-Riley has been handed a five-year contract by a European club.
The centre-back played 41 times for Scott Parker’s side as they gained automatic promotion back to the Premier League, partnering Maxime Esteve at the heart of the league’s best defence.
Ownership Group Target Egan-Riley
According to a report from TBR Football and Graeme Bailey, the BlueCo group, who own Chelsea, have targeted the former Manchester City man as his deal expires, planning on sending the 22-year-old to sister club Strasbourg. Managed by former Hull City man Liam Rosenior, the Alsace club are on the brink of European football, just needing one point on the final day against Le Havre to secure at least UEFA Conference League football.
It states that BlueCo had offered a five-year deal back in January to Egan-Riley, who was also in talks with multiple Premier League clubs across the winter transfer window. Burnley would be due compensation should he move elsewhere and would get scarcer returns if he heads to France.
Egan-Riley has previously expressed his desire to remain at Turf Moor in February, stating in an interview with BBC Radio Lancashire:
“Of course I would like to stay. I’m loving my football at the moment.
“This season has really opened my eyes to Burnley. Before this season I had had a tough time and I probably didn’t feel that way towards the club, but this season has really opened my eyes to it and I now have a real strong connection to the club and I’m enjoying my football.”
Writers’ View
With the prospect of European football on the horizon with Strasbourg, CJ Egan-Riley may wait until the final round of Ligue 1 games to decide his future. Liam Rosenior’s side have been the most improved side in France this season and adding a brilliant defender like Egan-Riley will help them at a time when they could lose standouts like Andrey Santos and Ismael Doukoure to other clubs this summer. However, with his previous comments, Burnley and Scott Parker may feel confident they can keep their man at the club as they head into the Premier League.
