Burnley has cast their eye to France as they prepare to replace key man Josh Brownhill should he leave at the end of his contract, according to Alan Nixon.
The 29-year-old netted 18 times as the Clarets bounced back to the Premier League.
Burnley Eye £12 Million Replacement
With Brownhill’s contract coming to an end, Scott Parker could be left with a real headache of how to plug the gap left by such a consistent performer.
The man attacking Parker’s attention is the Stade Rennais and former Birmingham City midfielder Jordan James.
James has featured in 25 Ligue 1 matches, starting 14 of those, in his debut season at the club following a reported £8 million move from Birmingham last summer.
For someone so young, the Welsh international is just 20 years old, James has already played 130 club matches and has 17 caps for his country.
After just a season in France, James could be on the verge of a return to English football and a chance at the Premier League.
Hard Act To Follow
Burnley are hopeful of agreeing on a new deal with Brownhill but the 29-year-old is attracting strong interest and more lucrative offers from sides like Celtic, Rangers and Everton.
Brownhill had a superb season at Turf Moor, scoring 18 times, assisting a further six and consistently performing well.
His loss would be a huge blow to Parker and add to an already uphill task of staying in the division. James is being eyed as a Brownhill replacement but questions remain as to whether he can make the step up to England’s top flight.
James only scored once for Rennes last season meaning he is someway off Brownhill’s contribution in that area.
The midfielder is said to be happy in France and enjoying his football so he may not jump at the chance to join what is likely to be an unsuccessful fight against relegation back to the Championship.
Writer’s View
The loss of Brownhill would be a massive blow for Burnley and finding a midfielder who can chip in with the number of goals he has is not easy.
James’s goal-scoring return falls way short of the Clarets captain and stepping up to the Premier League for the first time could be seen as a risk for both parties.
