Harrison Burrows will be West Ham starter regardless of Malick Diouf: Ex-boss has revealed why

Harrison Burrows was never supposed to be a left-back, as West Ham United set their sights on the defender.

A proven Championship performer, Burrows has forged himself a reputation as one of the best left-backs in English football outside of the Premier League.

The 24-year-old joined Sheffield United from Peterborough United in the summer of 2024, and has already made 93 total appearances for Blades.

Burrows joined Peterborough's academy system aged six, and would first feature for the senior side in a pre-season friendly in 2017 at just 15 years old.

After turning professional with the Posh in January 2019, he went on to make 185 competitive appearances for them, scoring 20 goals and providing a whopping 39 assists.

So, after just two years in the Steel City, the flying full-back may be ready to complete his latest big-money move this summer, at that could take him all the way to the London Stadium.

Darren Ferguson has spoken of Harrison Burrows' midfield potential

As per a report from Alan Nixon via his Patreon on Sunday, West Ham are claimed to be preparing an offer for Burrows.

It's stated that an approach from the Hammers is being drawn up, and could land on Sheffield United's desk at some point over the next few weeks.

Nixon also reports that the move could be sped up if El Hadji Malick Diouf was to leave West Ham this summer, which could hand over the keys to the starting left-back job in Nuno Espirito Santo's side to Burrows.

However, the Blades star won't be worried about carving out a starting job at the London Stadium if the Senegalese international was to stay.

Speaking in an April 2024 interview with the Peterborough Telegraph, Darren Ferguson - Burrows' former manager at Posh - reaffirmed that left-back is far from his natural position.

"He’s (Burrows) been amazing this season (2023-24). We have had to work with him - everyone knows it wasn’t a natural position for him at left-back, but he’s been the most consistent player in the whole league," Ferguson said.

“Every week he’s been a seven or eight out of ten. He very rarely has a bad game and he weighs in with his assists and goals.

“He’s been with the club for such a long time, but we progressed him into the first team. He’s a midfielder, a ten or a right winger because he’s got such good balance, but towards the end of last season, I had a decision to make and I took a bit of a gamble.

"We played him at Barnsley, knowing we had to win, and he never really looked back. He’s improved so much defensively."

Ferguson's character reference for Burrows is exactly what West Ham need

In that 2023-24 season from which this Ferguson interview took place in, Burrows ended that term with 12 goals and 17 assists from 58 total appearances.

That clearly proves the attacking and playmaking ability he has in his locker, and would certainly suggest he could find a home in the Hammers' side as a winger or in attacking midfield if needed.

So, not only will his versatility massively appeal to Hammers' chiefs, but the character reference Ferguson gave of Burrows should have the Irons running to the bank to withdraw transfer funds.

“There’s a difference being called a captain and actually feeling it, but he actually feels it and has thrived on it," Ferguson continued.

"He has improved massively both on and off the pitch. He’s been the most consistent player in the league.”

Diouf is very unlikely to be sticking around, but even if he does, Burrows has to be signed now.