Burnley or West Ham must boost promotion hopes with ambitious AFC Bournemouth swoop | OneFootball

Burnley and West Ham should look to make an ambitious move to sign David Brooks from Bournemouth this summer

Burnley and West Ham United will both have ambitions of securing an immediate return to the Premier League next season, and can boost their chances of doing so by completing a deal for a Premier League attacker.

Burnley and West Ham will be joined by Wolverhampton Wanderers as the three teams relegated into the Championship ahead of next season, with all three set to be among the favourites for promotion.

Both the Clarets and Hammers have had quiet windows so far, at least in terms of incomings, with the likes of Loum Tchaouna, Maxime Esteve, and Jaidon Anthony collecting healthy fees at Turf Moor, whilst Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville have done the same at the London Stadium.

Burnley have recently been linked with a move for former Middlesbrough striker Emmanuel Latte Lath, whilst West Ham reportedly want to sign Stoke City winger Sorba Thomas, as both clubs eye up attacking recruits this summer.

However, they should turn their attentions to the South Coast to Bournemouth and plot a move for a player who could well find his minutes few and far between with the Cherries next season, but could be a sensation in the Championship.

Burnley and West Ham should target Bournemouth’s David Brooks this summer

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Following relegation, it goes without saying that both Burnley and West Ham need makeovers of their squads, especially in the top end.

The news of Jarrod Bowen remaining at the London Stadium for their Championship campaign will be a huge boost for the Hammers, but with each of Summerville, Callum Wilson, and Adama Traore having left the club, head coach Nuno Espírito Santo will be eyeing attacking reinforcements.

Burnley losing both Anthony and Tchaouna means both of their starting wing options from last year have left, and with Zian Flemming also looking likely to leave, the final third becomes an area in need of addressing at Turf Moor, as Bournemouth attacker David Brooks ought to be a target for both clubs this summer.

Brooks, 29, began his career with Sheffield United, and made 37 appearances for the Blades before securing a £11.5 million move to Bournemouth in the summer of 2018.

The Welsh international has since scored 24 and assisted 20 in 180 appearances across all competitions for the Cherries, whilst also bravely recovering from Stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma between October 2021 and May 2022.

He made 31 Premier League appearances just last season under Andoni Iraola, though only 13 of those were starts, with the likes of Rayan, Amine Adli, Junior Kroupi, Ben Gannon-Doak, Justin Kluivert, Marcus Tavernier, and Ryan Christie as competition.

However, with Iraola having left for Liverpool, whether he is in new boss Marco Rose’s plans remains to be seen, as the attacking-midfielder should be on Burnley’s and West Ham’s radar this summer.

Burnley

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Burnley have recently appointed Nicky Hayen as their new head coach months after the departure of Scott Parker, with the Belgian tasked with guiding the club back to the top flight.

Three weeks after his appointment, no new faces have been added to the squad, as the 45-year-old will hope to stamp his authority on the squad sooner rather than later.

Whilst the likes of Marcus Edwards, Luca Koleosho, Hannibal Mejbri, and Aaron Ramsey are all still at the club and can operate in a similar role to Brooks, the Welshman would be an automatic upgrade on those options.

Capable of playing anywhere behind the centre-forward, but best either through the middle or on the right, Brooks would add another string to Burnley's attacking bow.

Ramsey, who recently spent the season on loan with Leicester City as the Foxes were relegated to League One, started for the Clarets in the number ten role against Ajax, though whether he will do so come the opening game of the season remains to be seen.

Brooks would be the perfect fit in that role, and capable of drifting out to the right, could strike up an excellent partnership with Welsh compatriot Connor Roberts at right-back, as Hayen should look to get this one done.

West Ham United

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West Ham will surely be spending a huge amount between now and the end of the window, with parachute payments in their arsenal, as well as the near £150 million they have just received from the sales of Fernandes and Summerville.

Nuno was backed with the additions of Diogo Jota, Ruben Neves, and Ivan Cavaleiro last time he was in the Championship with Wolves, and will be hoping for similar backing this time around in the capital.

Brooks, although he signed a fresh deal less than 12 months ago, extending his stay with Bournemouth until the summer of 2029, could still leave before then, especially if he is pushed down the pecking order with the Cherries.

At 29, he ought to be in the prime of his career, and with the ability to become the main man in a top-end Championship team, West Ham would be a perfect fit for the Welshman.

In any case, it would be a surprise to see Brooks starting regularly for Bournemouth next season, and with the potential to become a crucial part of West Ham's promotion charge, Nuno must get the ball rolling on this deal.