West Ham are reportedly intensifying their pursuit of Burnley’s C.J. Egan-Riley, having held discussions with the 22-year-old and his representatives. The defender is set to become a free agent when his current deal expires on 30th June 2025.
Egan-Riley has been a standout performer during Burnley’s successful promotion campaign in the Championship and has earned a nomination for the EFL Championship Young Player of the Season.
Despite his growing reputation, Egan-Riley remains one of the lowest-paid players at Turf Moor, earning an estimated £6k a week, and is seeking a significant uplift to his salary.
In February, the former Manchester City academy graduate expressed his desire to remain at Burnley, telling BBC Lancashire: “Of course I would like to stay. I’m loving my football at the moment.”
However, Scott Parker is facing stiff competition from Graham Potter, who is eager to complete the transfer of the versatile defender to West Ham. Egan-Riley’s ability to play both as a central defender and at right-back adds to his appeal.
Meanwhile, midfielder Josh Brownhill has also been linked with a potential departure from the club.
Parker recently commented on the situation: “I am confident — I know both players have loved this year and been vital to what we’ve done. Hopefully we can get conclusions on both of them.”
I have been a season ticket holder since the late eighties, so experienced the highs and lows of being a West Ham supporter. I previously wrote for OLAS and have contributed to a number of football publications in the past.
