According to Football Insider, Burnley are aiming to keep hold of Maxime Esteve ahead of the summer amid mounting interest from Everton and Crystal Palace. The Clarets have placed a £50 million asking price on the French defender with the hope that their demands price out potential suitors.
Maxime Esteve made his loan signing permanent and has proven to be a solid acquisition for Burnley, especially in the 2024/25 season. The French defender was named in the Championship Team of the Season after his exploits for Scott Parker’s side, which conceded only 16 times, as the Clarets clinched a quick promotion back to the Premier League.
Burnley are aware of the growing interest in the defender, with Everton keen on the centre-back. The Clarets do not want to lose the player, who is tied with the club until 2029, which does give the newly promoted side the power in negotiations.
Everton have watched Maxime Esteve on several occasions, and they are keen to add him to their backline, which could see a few changes during the summer. Michael Keane is departing, which does leave a big room for a new centre-back addition.
Crystal Palace are also in the market for a new centre-back, as Marc Guehi is expected to leave for a bigger team as the club captain will need replacing. There were links with several centre-backs, including Ousmane Diomande. Replacing Guehi would take a big effort, and the Eagles are also considering Esteve as a viable option.
Burnley are in no mood to consider cheap offers from Premier League rivals for their key man, as they want at least £50 million to sell the 23-year-old defender. They also have the knowledge of Bayern Munich’s interest, which makes it even more credible to ask for a monumental price point.
The primary aim is to keep hold of the Frenchman as Parker would like to keep the main group intact and make key additions. Burnley hope that the £50 million asking price would ward off the interested parties, and give the club the power to decide to keep hold of the defender.
