It's a pretty simple equation. We have at best two goal scoring bairns on the books next season (Jebbo and Osula). We need four. Where is your money coming from to sign the two strikers to help us get promoted (fees, wages, agent fees etc)?Whatever you think of Mcburnie, some things are undeniable. His record in the Championship is decent. He he has a sizeable transfer value for a Championship club. Indeed, a contracted Mcburnie would be beyond most Champ clubs budgets.
If a likely Championship bound club isn't trying to retain his services they are either experiencing a Wendyesque level of self delusion, or are being backed by somebody with money to burn. Those clubs can afford to look at the forwards that can help them when in the Prem (if the FFP numbers stack up). The business case is that simple. There isn't a Championship club that wouldn't have him as an option despite his limitations. This is a cautionary tale about sunk costs as much as anything else.
The big issue with McBurnie is his limited availability. Last 4 seasons:
20/21 (38 game season) : 12 starts, 11 sub
21/22 (46 game season): 9 starts, 19 sub
22/23 (46 game season) 25 starts, 13 sub
23/24 (so far 24 games) 9 starts, 4 sub
So out of 154 games, he's started 55, come on as sub 47 times, and not played 52 times. And I would hazard a guess that his unused sub appearances are rare.
So you have a player that's only available for 2 out of 3 games, and only starts 1 out of 3, and this is not due to tactics as he's a first choice. It's fitness and suspensions. That's also undeniable. He's been injured on and off for 4 years, and his disciplinary record isn't helping. Is that someone whose contract you want to renew? Can you rely on him? I think you're wrong. A lot of Championship teams would regard him as someone not to touch because he's not reliable.
McBurnie is really poor value for money. And he won't be free. he will also demand signing on fees, agents fees and wages.
We went down this road with Fleck and Osborn. We have no money to waste. I would want any deal McBurnie signs heavily appearance based, though I know that's not going to happen.
One little factoid that tells you how poor McBurnie's appearance record is. He's scored in his last 4 league appearances at the Lane. Those appearances were spread over 4 months. He's missed 4 home games in that span.