Brentford have made a second bid for Burnley defender Dara O’Shea and there is confidence that a deal can be agreed to bring the Republic of Ireland international back to the Premier League.
After a difficult campaign beset by injury issues, Thomas Frank’s side are looking to add some extra depth in the defensive positions during the final few weeks of the transfer window.
And HITC can confirm that Brentford have now lodged a second bid for Dara O’Shea, the 25-year-old centre-half who impressed despite Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League in 2023/24.
O’Shea, capped 26 times by the Republic of Ireland, only moved to Turf Moor from West Bromwich Albion a year ago to the tune of £7 million.
Burnley could now make a sizeable profit if they are willing to accept Brentford’s proposal.
HITC understands that talks between The Bees and The Clarets are ongoing. There is confidence, meanwhile, that a deal will be agreed.
Brentford make new bid for Burnley ace Dara O’Shea
The Dublin-born, right-footed O’Shea would add to Frank’s defensive options.
Brentford already have Kristoffer Ajer and another former Burnley man in Nathan Collins at their disposal, while new number four Kim Ji-Soo has been promoted to the first-team roster a year on from his arrival from Seongnam FC.
Ethan Pinnock and Ben Mee are not getting any younger at 31 and 34 respectively, however. The arrival of O’Shea would therefore bring in some extra youth and pace for Brentford’s backline.
O’Shea was ranked as the seventh fastest player in the Premier League last season. Only Tottenham Hotspur’s rapid Micky van de Ven and AFC Bournemouth’s Ilya Zabarnyi were clocked posting better ‘max speeds’.
O’Shea’s impressive availability record should also appeal to a Brentford side who lost numerous first-team regulars to long-term injuries last term.
He started 32 league matches under Vincent Kompany, totalling nearly 3,000 minutes of action.
At 6ft 1ins, O’Shea is also a formidable presence in the opposition penalty area. He scored three goals and set up four more in the top-flight. Numbers which see him rank second in the Premier League and fourth in Europe’s top-five leagues in terms of non-penalty goal contributions from centre-halves.
Thomas Frank in the market for centre-halves
“He’s been a strong performer for us,” now-Bayern Munich boss Kompany said midway through what could prove to be O’Shea’s first and only season as a Burnley player, per the Burnley Express.
“Beyond what the obvious would be, which would be him stepping up in recent games, I think (O’Shea) is also one of the players who is growing in terms of character and leadership as well.
“These guys in that middle phase between being young and experienced, they’re making that step.”
Brentford have made only one new signing so far in the current transfer window.
The excitement surrounding the club-record £30 million acquisition of former Club Brugge striker Igor Thiago has been hit, however, by an injury which denies Frank the services of another high-profile player.
Sky Sports claim that Thiago is likely to miss the majority of 2024 after suffering a meniscus blow on his Bees debut.
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