Burnley FC: Brownhill and Weghorst situations will be on Scott Parker's mind | OneFootball

Two situations at Burnley that will be on the manager's mind

Highlights

Burnley are preparing for life back in the Championship after suffering relegation from the Premier League last season.

The Clarets have already endured a busy summer, with Vincent Kompany departing for Bayern Munich.

The Belgian enjoyed a two-year stint as manager at Turf Moor, but will not oversee a third campaign with the club.

Scott Parker has been heavily linked with filling the vacated head coach space left behind by Kompany.

Parker has a positive track record in the Championship, guiding Fulham and Bournemouth to promotion in the past.

But the Englishman has been out of work for over a year, with his most recent gig being a short three-month stint at Club Brugge, which ended in March 2023.

Here we look at two situations that will be on his mind at Burnley, provided he is confirmed as Kompany’s permanent successor…

Josh Brownhill

Josh Brownhill’s future at Burnley is in doubt despite the club triggering a clause in his contract to keep him for another year.

The midfielder now has just 12 months to decide the next step in his career, as he will be a free agent in 2025 unless fresh terms can be agreed.

The 28-year-old featured 33 times in the Premier League last season, and has been a regular presence in the side since joining from Bristol City in 2020 (all stats from Fbref).

But his contract situation means that Burnley will need to weigh up whether or not to cash in on the player this summer, or to try and convince him to stay with a new long-term deal.

A lot of that decision may rest with whoever is the new head coach, with Parker looking like the clear frontrunner at the moment.

If Parker has no use for someone like Brownhill in his squad, then potential suitors should be sought for an exit this summer.

Either way, the Clarets will want to avoid losing him for nothing in 2025 regardless of his possible play-time this season, as that would be a real waste.

Wout Weghorst

Another player entering the final 12 months of his Burnley contract is Wout Weghorst.

The Dutchman spent last season on loan with German side Hoffenheim, and has spent the summer with the Netherlands’ national team as they compete at Euro 2024.

It has been reported that Eredivisie giants Ajax are interested in signing the striker this summer, with league rivals FC Twente also weighing up a move.

Weghorst has not played for the Lancashire outfit since the summer of 2022, when the club was relegated from the Premier League prior to Kompany’s arrival as manager.

Cashing in on the 31-year-old will surely be a priority for the club this summer once a new manager has been officially appointed.

Weghorst contributed seven goals and three assists in the Bundesliga last season, helping Hoffenheim qualify for the Europa League with a seventh place finish in the table.