Time will tell: Nottingham Forest sold starlet Oliver Burke to RB Leipzig for £13m at the weekend (Photo by PS Images)
By Adam Virgo
OLIVER Burke is a real talent. The Nottingham Forest winger’s wonderful chest-and-volley goal against Wigan on Saturday was more than luck.
That kind of technique and composure is the mark of somebody who has the potential to play at the highest level.
Before Football League Tonight last weekend, I was talking to my old Brighton team-mate Glenn Murray, who played against Burke a couple of weeks ago.
He said ‘Have you seen this bloke? He’s some player’. When I said he was only 19, Muzza couldn’t believe it.
Could Burke thrive in the Premier League now? Yes. He’s got the pace, the technical ability and he’s grown immensely in the past 12 months.
From what I’ve seen so far, he could be the next Dele Alli and Crystal Palace are just one of the clubs showing an interest.
But if he isn’t going to play, what’s the point? If Burke joined a top-flight side next week, they could easily put him in the Under-21s and ‘nurture’ him for a couple of years.
Nobody benefits from that. Right now, he’s comfortable, he’s playing well, he’ll get 45 Championship games under his belt.
This time next year, he’ll be a tougher, more experienced player.
He’s also got a manager in Philippe Montanier who has a fantastic track record of developing young players.
The Frenchman had Antoine Griezmann at Real Sociedad.
From what I’ve read, Griezmann – who finished as top scorer at Euro 2016 – insists he wouldn’t be the player he is today without the guidance and help of his compatriot during those formative years.
At that age, it’s so crucial to have the right manager. If I was Burke, the only way I’d accept a move is if the buyer agreed a season-long loan back to Forest.
*This article originally featured in The FLP on 28 August 2016.
