The New Year doesn’t only signify the opening of the January transfer window for teams around Europe, but it also marks the starting point for which teams can secure pre-contract agreements with players coming to the ends of their contracts.
Teams in England often lose players on pre-contract agreements. Clubs in Europe find a player who’s out of contract at an English club in the next six months and agrees to sign them for £0 when their contracts eventually expire.
English clubs aren’t allowed to do such agreements with other English clubs and so it’s certainly an advantage that European clubs have in the transfer market. For Leeds United, the ruling may see them miss out on a player who’s been linked with an Elland Road move this season.
So far, 19 players have been linked with Leeds United in the build up to January. But none have officially made the move to West Yorkshire just yet, with none seemingly set to do so in the short-term either.
Josh Brownhill has European offers amid Leeds United interest
It’s now been revealed that Burnley’s Josh Brownhill has offers from overseas ahead of his Burnley contract expiring at the end of the 2024/25 season. Back in November, it was claimed that Leeds United were keen on Brownhill.
Burnley signed Brownhill from Bristol City in a £9million deal back in 2020. This season, he’s shone in the Championship scoring nine goals and assisting three more for the 2nd place Clarets.
But GIVEMESPORT report that Premier League West Ham are keen on Brownhill who is ‘weighing up offers from overseas clubs’, which the same report says could ‘complicate any potential deal’ in January.
In his career, the 29-year-old Brownhill has 214 Championship appearances and 32 goals and 22 assists to his name. He also boasts 111 Premier League games, with six goals and as many assists.
Josh Brownhill handed bargain price tag ahead of January
Speaking earlier in the season, pundit Carlton Palmer discussed Brownhill’s situation at Turf Moor and how much he might be worth given his contract expiring at the end of the campaign.
Palmer said: “What is he worth? With his contract, maybe £1.5m to £2m. Burnley might keep him until the end of the season. If, in fact, he doesn’t sign a new contract it wouldn’t surprise me.”
But even should Leeds be able to get him on a cut price fee, this emerging news of European offers, and also interest from the Premier League, should be very worrying for Leeds if they remain keen on Brownhill.
At 29, he’s possibly at a good age to head abroad and spend a good few years of his prime overseas, flourishing out there after a solid stint in England.
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