Maxime Esteve claim may add fuel to Burnley FC exit fear | OneFootball

Following an interview expressing his career ambitions, Burnley will once again fear the potential departure of defender Maxime Esteve.

Having gained promotion back to the Premier League, Burnley will be looking to build a team capable of competing in the top-flight but there will now be fresh concerns that replacing a key player or two is what will be forced to be their priority.

Burnley ended up as runners’ up in the Championship table, missing out on the title on goal difference as Leeds United scored late to come from behind and win away at Plymouth Argyle on the final day of the campaign at Home Park.

The Clarets collected 100 points in their 46 matches with just two defeats and, staggeringly, just 16 goals conceded in those 46 games with Scott Parker’s defence now famed and a few members of it being linked with a move away.

One player that could well be linked with a move away quite strongly this summer is centre-back Maxime Esteve and the 22-year-old Montpellier-born defender has now discussed what his career aspirations are – and they don’t necessarily suggest a long career at Turf Moor.

Esteve’s desire to go to the top of the Premier League

Esteve, who joined Burnley from Montpellier on an initial loan deal in the winter transfer window of 2024 before a permanent move to Lancashire at the end of last season, has discussed his desire to play for one of the ‘top six’ sides in England:

“When I was young, I dreamed of playing in the Premier League. I watched basically just that on the TV. My dream is to play for a top six team in England. I wouldn’t say there is any club in particular but by dream is to go there,” Esteve told Foot Mercato.

At the back end of the winter transfer window, as Tottenham Hotspur missed out on moves for Axel Disasi and Fikayo Tomori, it was reported by L’Equipe that they held an interest in Esteve, too.

That interest may well be something that Esteve is aware of as he also discussed his favourite Premier League players of the past and present – both representing Spurs:

“My favourite player was Gareth Bale when he was playing at Tottenham because I was younger, I was a left-winger and a left back.

There is a player that I like a lot in the Premier League that not everyone talks about – Micky van de Ven. He is very quick and I like him a lot because I think that I have the same speedy qualities, even if he is a lot quicker. I’m inspired by him because he is a player who is of a similar profile to me.”

Burnley’s potential defensive exodus

With Esteve likely to once again garner attention this summer, Scott Parker will have to fear his exit as well as outstanding goalkeeper James Trafford, who has already been heavily linked with both Chelsea and Newcastle United.

Having just returned one of the best ever defensive records by any team at any level, Burnley’s defence will of course be sought-after and they proved themselves to be willing to sell last summer with the departures of Arijanet Muric, Sander Berge, Scott Twine, Wilson Odobert, Anass Zaroury and Dara O’Shea among many others.

It has been reported by Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, that Burnley’s promotion means they have already brought in four players on permanent deals with clauses in the loan contracts of Bashir Humphreys, Zian Flemming, Marcus Edwards and Jaidon Anthony respectively.

It is expected to be an extremely busy summer in east Lancashire for Parker’s side and the looming possibility of renewed interest in Esteve will be a concern for the Premier League new boys.