As if West Ham United’s sluggish start to the transfer window was not frustrating enough, the Premier League outfit are now watching on helplessly as two of Graham Potter’s targets opt for French giants Marseille instead.
While West Ham plan to sell before they buy this summer – their more expensive targets on the backburner for the time being – such an approach does not prevent Potter, Kyle Macaulay and co scouring the market for talented free-agents in the meantime.
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill is expected to join when his contract officially expires at the end of the month.
West Ham United were hoping to sign CJ Egan-Riley from Scott Parker’s Premier League newcomers as well. But while Burnley confirmed on Wednesday that the former Manchester City defender had rejected the chance to sign a new deal at Turf Moor, Egan-Riley now joins Angel Gomes in slipping through West Ham United’s fingers.
Burnley’s CJ Egan-Riley chooses Marseille over West Ham United
Marseille agreed a deal with Angel Gomes last week. The ex-Manchester United youngster was identified by Graham Potter as someone capable of transforming West Ham’s midfield.
Gomes, a tidy and highly-technical deep-lying playmaker who excels when dictating play from his number six role, is the sort of footballer who would have excelled on Potter’s watch at Brighton and could provide some silk to a shonky Hammers engine room.
Marseille have now officially confirmed, via their website, that Gomes will move to the Stade Velodrome instead. And he will be joined by CJ Egan-Riley.
Hammers News can confirm that Egan-Riley is set to undergo a medical in the south of France after choosing Roberto de Zerbi’s Ligue 1 runners-up over a number of other options.
The Manchester-born England Under-21 defender also shunned late interest from West Ham.
The Hammers made a fresh approach at the beginning of June, one of a number of occasions they had held talks with Egan-Riley’s camp over recent months.
The prospect of Egan-Riley choosing a fresh start in France always felt likely, especially after Liam Rosenior’s ambitious Strasbourg entered discussions. But when former European champions Marseille threw their hat into the ring, former Hibernian and PSV Eindhoven loanee Egan-Riley wasted little time saying yes to a proposal which clearly captured his imagination.
West Ham could still land Josh Brownhill with Maxime Esteve another target
Egan-Riley was a massive reason why Burnley conceded a record 15 goals in 46 Championship matches last season. West Ham have been linked with Maxime Esteve, his former centre-back partner at Turf Moor, as well.
An avid viewer of a Burnley outfit who joined Leeds in breaking the 100-point barrier last season, EFL expert Don Goodman is ‘not surprised’ to see West Ham circle around Parker’s squad with last season’s 18-goal top scorer Brownhill seemingly destined for the London Stadium.
“I’m not really surprised,” Goodman tells Football League World in response to West Ham’s interest in the Burnley duo. “How can you be surprised? Josh Brownhill scored an incredible amount of goals for Burnley and was a leader on the pitch, a captain.
“CJ Egan-Riley belonged to a record-breaking Championship defence. [Egan-Riley] largely didn’t get the credit that he deserved because [Maxime] Esteve got loads of headlines, as did [goalkeeper] James Trafford. I think this is a very underrated player.
“If I’m Burnley, I’m really pushing the boat out financially in order to keep these two players.”
