Scott Parker might well be known to many in the Premier League as a former goalscoring hero on the books of West Ham United, but his managerial career in the top league to date has been anything but a smooth sailing experience.
Indeed, the 44-year-old has only ever collected nine wins from the dug-out when taking control of a top-flight team. Still, after guiding the Clarets to automatic promotion in style with only two defeats from 46 Championship clashes last season, he will fancy his chances at rewriting this negative narrative.
He will certainly be helped in his efforts to keep the Lancashire side afloat if he is given plenty to spend this summer transfer window, with a new target who has previously set the EFL alight now catching the eye at Turf Moor.
Burnley add 20-year-old star to shortlist
Whilst Leeds United explore moves aplenty with Aaron Ramsdale and Emiliano Buendia linked, the Whites’ fellow automatic promotion winners haven’t been overrun with rumours of their own.
Danny Ings has been speculatively linked with a return to the Clarets, alongside Chelsea outcast Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also being tipped to make the move from West London, but one new rumour involving ex-Birmingham City star Jordan James has emerged.
Journalist Alan Nixon has revealed that Burnley are taking a look at the now Rennes midfielder as a possible replacement figure for Josh Brownhill, with the newly promoted outfit prepared to splash £12m to land the 20-year-old’s services.
Whilst James could come in and replace Brownhill, considering the experienced Clarets ace is being linked with a switch to Everton among other established top-flight destinations, Parker will pray that the former St. Andrew’s product could actually bounce off the 29-year-old well, with the youngster perhaps going on to be as influential as Tom Cairney once was in the heart of Parker’s midfield at Fulham.
Games played
63
Goals scored
10
Assists
4
Games missed through injury
47
How James could be Parker's next Brownhill
Despite missing 47 games of Parker’s tenure through serious injury, the much-loved Cottagers servant would still manage to pick up a hefty tally of ten goals and four assists from 63 games under his methods.
Much like Cairney, James has shown for ex-employers Birmingham in the Championship that he has a similar eye for firing home an effort or assisting a teammate, leading to Rennes boldly picking him up for a sturdy £8m fee.
In total, the 20-year-old would pick 12 goal contributions for his boyhood side from 105 clashes, with a hope now on the Wales international’s end that a return to England results in him becoming a Premier League established performer for Parker’s relegation-threatened side.
After all, whilst Cairney did shine in glimpses under the 44-year-old’s guidance, he hadn’t yet made a full name for himself in the top flight. Now, at 34 years of age, the Fulham veteran has added 144 Premier League clashes to his glittering career resume, with James presumably eager to make similar waves if he does relocate back to England.
CM
40
3
2
DM
21
0
0
AM
16
3
1
LM
10
2
0
RM
9
0
0
The table above further reinforces the idea that James could become Parker’s next iteration of Cairney in time, with the Clarets target capable of playing all across the midfield positions much like the Fulham captain, away from simply offering up the same goal-threat as the number ten.
Labelled as a “standout” young player when on the books of the Blues by journalist Josh Bunting, it will be intriguing to see how seamlessly the 20-year-old makes the transition up to the bright lights of the Premier League.
Yet, if there’s one figure that should be able to get the best out of James, it’s Parker, considering he was once a wide-eyed starlet himself in the middle of the park trying to cut his teeth, away from previously working with Cairney.
Dream Burnley XI after promotion: Egan-Riley replaced & £30m star arrives
Scott Parker will want lots of new signings through the door at Burnley after their triumphant return to the Premier League.
ByKelan SarsonJun 1, 2025
