Burnley in talks to sign Dara O’Shea, transfer boost on cards

Premier League newcomers Burnley are in talks to sign West Brom defender Dara O’Shea, according to the Telegraph journalist John Percy.

O’Shea has proven a crucial performer across his career at The Hawthorns since his emergence from the academy and was heavily utilised by Corberan before his injury towards the end of the campaign.

The Sunday People revealed on 11 June that the Baggies are willing to listen to offers for O’Shea this summer as they look to “balance the books” at The Hawthorns, and that certainly looks to be the case with Burnley on the prowl for his services.

Telegraph journalist Percy [21 June] took to his personal Twitter account to report that negotiations are underway with Vincent Kompany’s team which could prove a huge financial boost to the Baggies.

He tweeted: “Burnley are hopeful of agreeing a fee with West Brom for defender Dara O’Shea, with negotiations ongoing.

“Could prove a huge financial boost for West Brom, and prevent the feared fire sale of other coveted players (inc Wallace & Swift) this summer.”

O’Shea loss so crucial

It’s no secret that West Brom are under financial pressure right now to sell their key performers in order to balance the books at The Hawthorns and selling a player of O’Shea’s talents and leadership is a tempting possibility.

However, despite the potential cash boost, it will be very tough for West Brom to replace his quality and character something that proved so crucial and telling during Corberan’s stunning improvements of the team since his appointment in October.

Regular and consistent displays have taken O’Shea beyond the 100-appearance mark for the club he joined as a teenager back in 2015, and given the West Brom squad is set to undergo major changes this summer, keeping a player possessing real leadership and knowledge of the club is still a useful tool for Corberan which the club must not be rid of.

Premier League football may prove too tempting for O’Shea, though, and playing for a progressive and expansive side such as Kompany’s at Turf Moore represents the ideal step up for him too. Despite his potential sad departure, this is a pleasing move for his career and one he will certainly be considering.

How Corberan will look to replace him in the team will be incredibly intriguing but West Brom are about to lose such a vital and crucial performer, regardless of the huge financial boost it could offer.

You can’t buy leadership and character.

In other West Brom news, one pundit has mooted a summer move for a Player of the Season nominee at the Albion.