Crystal Palace have shown interest in signing Dwight McNeil this summer, with the Burnley winger also on the radars of West Ham United.
According to an exclusive report from The Sun, Crystal Palace are set to battle it out with West Ham United for the services of Dwight McNeil, with the Burnley attacker earmarked as a target for Patrick Vieira. The Clarets value their prized asset at over £10 million and will not entertain any offers below this mark.
Following Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League, it comes as no surprise that several of their key players are looking for better opportunities this summer. Everton recently announced the signing of James Tarkowski, while Newcastle United snapped up Nick Pope for a bargain £10 million price. And McNeil could soon follow them out of Turf Moor.
The 22-year-old has been on the books at Burnley since his move from the Manchester United academy and has impressed for the Clarets ever since he broke into the first team in 2018. McNeil has since gone on to become a regular fixture at Turf Moor, racking up 147 appearances in which he has a tally of seven goals and 17 assists.
Last season, though, was a complete disaster for McNeil in terms of his non-existent attacking output. The English winger featured in all 38 of Burnley‘s Premier League games, but the youngster struggled big-time, with only one assist and no goals all season as his team plunged into a relegation spiral.
With the unappealing prospect of playing in the EFL Championship beckoning next season, McNeil finds himself at a crossroads. The Clarets are not in any rush to sell the 22-year-old because his contract is not up until 2024, and they have the option to extend it by another year.
Perhaps, a season in the Championship might provide McNeil with valuable experience ahead of a future in the Premier League, and a productive season in the second tier would further raise his stock. Alternatively, the Clarets can do little to stop him from leaving if he pushes hard to engineer a move away from Turf Moor.
McNeil has been tipped for a Premier League switch this summer, with West Ham United and Crystal Palace in the chase to secure his signature. That would also provide Burnley with significant funds to initiate their rebuild under new boss Vincent Kompany.
Crystal Palace, for one, are in need of more attacking options in midfield following the departure of Conor Gallagher. They are looking at Wolves’ Morgan Gibbs-White and Swansea City’s Flynn Downes, but McNeil would be a far more accomplished alternative to the duo thanks to his top-flight experience and a similar age profile and pricing.
As for West Ham, Said Benrahma could be on his way out this summer after a mixed spell at the London Stadium. McNeil could prove to be a good replacement for the Algerian winger as he ticks all the boxes of a typical David Moyes signing.
With his exceptional ball-playing talents, off-the-ball tenacity and excellent defensive output, the 22-year-old English winger certainly has the talent to play in the Premier League and could thrive in a setup that plays with more attacking intent.
