Whittaker’s refusal to play against Burnley in midweek added to the ongoing drama, but it is unlikely to have prevented Argyle’s 5-0 defeat.
Such a bold declaration from the player suggests he believes his future is away from Home Park, and it now appears to be a simple matter of the clubs agreeing on costs and him picking where he wants to go.
The Clarets have already filed two proposals for their long-standing goal this month. Initially, it appeared that only they held a real interest. However, reports of a bid from Middlesbrough earlier this week made it a two-horse race.
Although not ideal, Burnley’s high league position puts them in a great position to negotiate a contract.
Middlesbrough’s advances should be a wake-up call for Burnley
For much of the month, it seemed like only Burnley was making a real play to recruit Whittaker. However, Middlesbrough has now followed up with that aforementioned proposal, making things tough for the Clarets.
Although their league position suggests they have a better chance of getting into the Premier League than a Middlesbrough side who trail them by a significant margin, it may not be all about instant top-flight football for Whittaker, who has struggled for form this season despite impressing in the previous campaign.
| Morgan Whittaker 2023/24 Championship stats (FotMob) | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 46 |
| Starts | 45 |
| Goals | 19 |
| Assists | 8 |
That will undoubtedly be a source of concern for Scott Parker, who, while having a plethora of attacking options, hasn’t always been able to get the most out of his wide men, so this additional competition does not appear to be timely.
Burnley should flex their financial muscles and put down the kind of money that Boro cannot reach to land this month’s number one target.
Burnley are still in need of attacking reinforcements
Burnley fans are concerned that Parker’s optimism on the attacking front may lead to a reluctance to pursue Whittaker, despite their recent 5-0 victory over Plymouth.
That would be a dangerous mistake for the Clarets to make, as one performance does not necessarily imply a total turnaround, but it is a start.
Burnley could benefit from Whittaker’s presence in closer games, as they have dropped points in games they should have won, including eight 0-0 draws this season.
Some of them came against teams that, according to the league standings, are among the weaker in the league, and the concern is that if they have many more between now and the end of the season, they may miss out on automatic promotion.
Burnley’s defence is exceptional, ranking as the joint-best in English league football history after 28 games. This stability allows them to win most games by a single goal, and Whittaker might be the difference in close games if they can hold off Boro’s surges.
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