One factor could affect Burnley FC's chances of keeping Maxime Esteve as Crystal Palace circle | OneFootball

Burnley need promotion to retain Maxime Esteve.

Scott Parker's Burnley are slowly writing their way into the history books with his squad's defensive nous now at a level rarely seen in the Championship.

The 2004-05 season of the Premier League is well known for producing one of the most solid teams in the division's history, with Chelsea conceding just 15 goals in 38 games.

Parker is desperate to emulate José Mourinho's side in the tier below and is well on his way to doing that, with the Clarets having conceded just nine goals so far.

Instead of Petr Cech, Ricardo Carvalho and John Terry, they have James Trafford, CJ Egan-Riley and Maxime Esteve, all of whom have been absolutely brilliant.

While Trafford has possibly caught the eye the most, outfield it is Esteve who has impressed and Alan Pace is seeing just why he forked out €15 million for the Frenchman.

This form doesn’t come without risks, and if Burnley want to retain the 22-year-old, they must secure promotion, or they risk losing him to the growing list of interested clubs.

Maxime Esteve's 2024-25 brilliance

Burnley have sacrificed some attacking dynamism to be more solid at the other end of the pitch, but this shortcoming cannot be placed on the shoulders of Esteve.

The French centre-back, who was signed permanently in the summer, has started every single match and is a huge leader in a relatively inexperienced backline.

Looking at his defensive statistics, he’s exceptional at recovering the ball, with his interceptions playing a crucial role in disrupting opposition attacks. The young defender is also highly composed on the ball, with 1,906 passes and a 91% accuracy rate, showcasing a player who trusts in his own ability.

While he’s not the only one crucial to their impressive defensive record, there’s no doubt that he’s one of the key components, and it can be argued that we've already seen enough to suggest he’s ready to make the leap to the Premier League.

This thought is also shared by many in the top tier, and it has since been reported by The Sun, that Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace are eyeing him as a potential Marc Guehi replacement, should he leave in the summer.

The Frenchman has also piqued the interest of many others, with the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur all keen on the 22-year-old.

Scott Parker needs promotion to keep Esteve

Having conceded 78 goals under Vincent Kompany in the Premier League last season, you can't question the work Parker has done to make them so defensively solid this year. But, the Clarets' compactness could come back to haunt them with goals clearly a problem.

Only three times this season have they found the back of the net more than twice in a game, and it's not that they haven't had finished opportunities; rather, it's that they’ve struggled to create them.

In the league, they rank 20th for both expected goals and big chances created (as of Monday, 10th February), a statistic that simply isn’t good enough for a team aiming for promotion.

This may have to see the head coach loosen up and provide his team with some more attacking license as they look to turn some of their 0-0 draws into victories.

For the retention of Esteve, this could be imperative, as the French centre-back may be more willing to stay at Turf Moor, should it be hosting Premier League football once again.

If the Clarets were to fail in their bid for promotion, then they would hand the cards to those in the tier above them, with the likes of Palace able to offer a big step-up in terms of quality.

While those at the club may argue that they hold the upper hand with Esteve's contract running until 2029, it’s clear that he’s already prepared for the jump.