West Ham United make approach to sign wantaway Burnley attacker Dwight McNeil – Sky Sports
West Ham have made an approach to sign Burnley attacker Dwight McNeil but their interest is matched by Crystal Palace, according to Sky Sports.
The broadcaster reported via their live transfer blog on Wednesday (01:02PM) that McNeil, 22, is keen to leave Burnley this summer and return to the Premier League after his side’s relegation last term.
It is understood that the Rochdale-born winger is considering his options at Turf Moor with Burnley set to demand at least £15million for the former England Under-21 international.
Sky Sports add that Burnley are in a strong position in transfer negotiations due to the fact that McNeil still has another two years left on his contract plus the option for it to be extended by a further 12 months.
West Ham reportedly see McNeil as a “prime target because of his experience of top-level football while still being in his early 20s”.
No, thanks
It’s hard to judge McNeil properly because he’s an attacking player who’s been stuck in a very defensive-minded team for his whole career.
In 134 Premier League appearances, he’s scored just seven goals and supplied only 17 assists.
Considering Burnley have had some proper powerhouses up front in recent years, it’s a shock that a winger hasn’t contributed to more goals than that.
McNeil played in every single Premier League game for Burnley last season as they were relegated and failed to score once and supplied just one assist.
Speaking to Sky Sports in April, ex-Burnley boss Sean Dyche admitted there were “question marks” surrounding the winger’s form last season.
Dyche did, however, back McNeil to bounce back, saying: “So I explained all of that to him and I said, ‘Look, don’t take it as a negative. You are in a massive growth period for you.’ It is easy to take the wheel of the ship when it is calm water. It is not so easy when the water is choppy.
“This is your first period when people are looking at you going, ‘Come on, Dwight, you’re not a boy anymore, you’re a young man.’ He is still a young man though and people forget that. But now it is about, come on, make sense of it and come through it. I believe he will do.”
Can West Ham trust McNeil to bounce back with them?
It’s a massive risk and one that would cost a lot of money when there are probably better options in the European market who could be brought in to add to David Moyes’ options out wide.