How CJ Egan Riley's wages at Burnley FC compare to the best Championship defenders | OneFootball

A look at how CJ Egan-Riley's estimated weekly wage compares to other top Championship defenders

It's been a sensational breakthrough season for CJ Egan-Riley at Burnley, not only establishing himself as a Turf Moor regular, but also as one of the best centre backs in the Championship.

Partnering Maxime Esteve for most of the season, he's been part of a Clarets back line that has broken a whole host of records and he's really made a name for himself at this level, and also in a position some may argue isn't his natural one.

Egan-Riley was used sparingly by Vincent Kompany, and shipped out on loan for most of his spell in charge, but on the odd occasion he did play, he was utilised as a holding midfielder and if he stays with Burnley that's a role he could potentially move into.

The major elephant in the room though, is that he's out of contract at the end of the season, and as yet there have been few rumblings that he's near to signing an extension.

Losing Egan-Riley for nothing would be a crushing blow to the Clarets, particularly as they've just started to reap the reward of their investment, but the allure of the Premier League in the summer could be too much should Burnley miss out on promotion.

Here, we look at how Egan-Riley's wages compare to other leading Championship defenders.

CJ Egan-Riley is estimated to be a relatively low earner at Burnley

Although in the grand scheme of life, it will be argued that Egan-Riley's estimated salary of £6,000 per week isn't low at all, in football terms it's only seen as a moderate salary.

According to Capology's estimates, Egan-Riley is the joint-second lowest earner at the club, level with Bashir Humphries and Shurandy Sambo, and having signed from Manchester City's youth team, that's perhaps not a huge surprise.

It would be fair to say that Egan-Riley's performances this season have been on a par with Esteve's, but their estimated wages are nowhere near alike, with the Frenchman estimated to scoop £15,000 per week, almost three times as much as his centre back partner.

Elsewhere, there have been calls that Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk are the best centre backs in the league, and there's a huge mismatch where their estimated salaries are concerned.

Rodon is estimated by Capology to scoop £40,000 per week, while Struijk is on £50,000 per week, which is a huge leap from the modest £6,000 of Egan-Riley, despite there being no noticeable difference in ability.

Burnley should offer CJ Egan-Riley a more attractive wage packet

With Egan-Riley's contract up in the summer, Burnley should be doing everything they can to keep him at the club in the summer, and that might be that they have to put considerable money down on the table.

Bringing his salary in line with some of the others could be enough to keep him on board, and for him, there should be no rush to play in the Premier League as he's only just established himself as a Championship regular.

From a player's point of view, it would be a little demoralising to see players who you've proved you're on par with earning potentially up to eight times as much, and that will certainly be one of his agent's negotiation tactics if a new deal is under discussion.

For Burnley to go out and replace him directly, they'd have to stump up millions to get a player of his calibre, so by offering him a weekly wage in line with what others of his level are earning, it could be enough to get him to sign on the dotted line.