Bristol City set to miss out on millions as rival side plot 'club record' offer
Bristol City are set to miss out on a sizeable profit with a former player set to decide his future
The future of a former Bristol City midfielder will be decided over the coming weeks – but whatever next steps the one-time Robins star takes in his career, his former club seem set to miss out on a potential which may have been worth millions of pounds.
Burnley star Josh Brownhill, who swapped Ashton Gate for Turf Moor in early 2020, is coming towards the end of his contract with the Clarets, but with their promotion to the Premier League now confirmed, the club are planning to make a ‘club record’ offer to keep him.
Burnley are “desperate” to retain one of their key pieces of their promotion-winning side, according to a new report from EFL Analysis, but whatever happens, Bristol City seem set to go without a potential windfall.
Why Josh Brownhill’s contract situation could cost Bristol City millions
While Burnley are reportedly ready to make the 29-year-old Brownhill their best-paid player in order to keep him at the club, EFL Analysis’ report suggests that they will find it “tough” to keep him at Turf Moor amid widespread interest from other sides in England and on the continent.
Brownhill “will listen” to Burnley’s offer, but is likely to be tempted by a move despite the Clarets’ determination to keep him around. The club reportedly turned down offers worth around £2m in January.
That price tag is far lower than the £9m that Burnley spent to sign him from the Robins midway through the 2019/20 season, but with his contract running down it would have been the last chance for Scott Parker’s side to cash in – and the last chance for Bristol City to further profit from the deal.
The Robins reportedly had a 15% sell-on clause included in the deal that took Brownhill to Burnley, but with the player either set to stay – likely well into his thirties - or depart on a free transfer, it looks as though Bristol City won’t see any benefit from it.
Burnley will likely not regret keeping Brownhill on the books even if he does leave as a free agent. His performances have been crucial in their successful bid to return to the Premier League, and he scored both goals on Monday evening as Burnley defeated Sheffield United to cement automatic promotion.
Bristol City hoping to follow Brownhill up
Wherever Brownhill ends up, it’s a safe bet that he won’t be playing in the Championship next season – and Bristol City will hope that they too are playing at a higher level come August.
Despite a disappointing 3-1 defeat away to relegation-threatened Luton Town on Easter Monday, the Robins will secure a play-off spot with one more league win and still have a four-point advantage over Middlesbrough and Millwall, who currently sit seventh and eighth in the table with two matches remaining.
The Robins now face a challenging trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United, who have also secured automatic promotion, and will finish their season on Saturday 3 May with a home match against an imperilled Preston North End side. Victory in either match will offer Liam Manning’s side the chance to compete in the top flight in the 2025/26 campaign.
Should they go up, missing out on a windfall from their decision to sell Brownhill five years ago will matter rather less, but with the team unable to spend in the January transfer window due to financial constraints, a profit in the winter would have been very welcome.