Scout Report: Oliver Burke
Every summer, a highly talented English youngster makes the move from the Championship to the Premier League and such a youngster often finds himself in the middle of a transfer war; Oliver Burke seems to be that youngster in the 2016 summer transfer window, as clubs like Tottenham, Arsenal, and Liverpool are ready to fight it out for the Nottingham Forest youngster. Aware of his special talents, Nottingham Forest tied him to a long-term deal that runs until 2021.
Burke has already had numerous comparisons with Gareth Bale. The Welsh winger was recently eclipsed by Paul Pogba as the most expensive player in the world. The progress made by Bale as a Championship player into one of the stars at Real Madrid is well-known. Many, including Scotland boss Gordon Strachan, believe that Burke has the potential to become as good as Bale if not better. The 19-year-old has already received a lot of such special praises over the last few months; they will only serve to motivate him towards a move to a better league.
The youngster plays on the right as an attacking midfielder, but many believe that he is best suited to play as an attacking right winger. Already called up to the national team squad by Strachan, Burke made his debut back in March. His talent was so apparent that he was made to bypass the U21 team completely to make his appearance at the senior team level. Even though Forest are aware of his abilities, he has been managed with tenderness. After making his debut in the 2014-15 season, Burke saw less than 800 minutes of action last season but he has started featuring more prominently this campaign.
Since he has a long time left on his contract, Nottingham Forest will be in a very strong position when it comes to negotiations. Being a home-grown youngster, it may not be surprising if his transfer fee touches the eight-digit mark. There are already rumours of Nottingham Forest valuing him at £10 million.
The big decision, though, will rest within the player. There are advantages and disadvantages over moving to a major club at the age of 19. Some players like Gareth Bale have taken the leap with huge success, while others like Jack Butland have failed to hit the same heights after having passed up the opportunity.
Update: This Article was written a few days ago and now the player has completed a transfer move to RB Leipzig (Bundesliga) and became the most expensive Scottish player in the history.
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