Vincent Kompany eyeing Bayern Munich reunion with Burnley star Maxime Esteve - Crystal Palace & Everton join chase | OneFootball

The Frenchman made the EFL Championship Team of the Season with the Clarets.

Crystal Palace and Everton are set to be joined by German giants Bayern Munich in their pursuit of Burnley centre-back Maxime Esteve.

This is according to a report from the French outlet L'Équipe, which states that Oliver Glasner's Eagles have made the 23-year-old a priority signing this summer.

The FA Cup winners hold the most interest in Esteve, but Everton's has increased over the past few days, whilst Bayern Munich also hold some interest, mainly due to the Frenchman's past relationship with current Munich boss Vincent Kompany.

Bayern Munich, Crystal Palace and Everton battle for Burnley's Maxime Esteve

Despite Burnley securing promotion to the Premier League, there's a high possibility that they will not begin the upcoming season with any of James Trafford, Maxime Esteve and CJ Egan-Riley in their squad, the defensive trio who all featured in the Championship Team of the Season.

Interest in Esteve wouldn't have come as a shock to anyone, given that the 23-year-old was in high demand by Premier League clubs back in January, with Tottenham even tabling a £20 million offer on the winter deadline day in February.

Now the summer window is briefly open, Esteve's interest comes mainly from FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, although Everton holds some investment as well as the current Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, according to a report from L'Équipe.

Palace may require a new high-level centre-back sooner rather than later, with Marc Guehi's contract set to expire in the summer of 2026, but if a club the size of Bayern Munich increases their interest, it may be difficult to contend with Vincent Kompany's side.

Especially given that Kompany and Esteve already have past relations. The French defender ended the 2023/24 season on loan at Turf Moor after the current Bayern coach brought him in on loan from Montpellier.

Nevertheless, Burnley will be hoping that the reports can be swept under the rug as they look to increase their chances of Premier League survival for the upcoming campaign.

Transfer speculation may spell disaster for Burnley

Burnley have already had to endure the real possibility of Egan-Riley leaving on a free transfer, with reports last month speculating a move to Liam Rosenior's Strasbourg.

Now, into the summer transfer window, it seems like they may also be losing Trafford and Esteve, too.

Trafford has been subject to interest from Champions League-bound Newcastle United for the past year, and it's expected that that won't slow down anytime soon, and now Esteve may be on the move to a fellow Premier League side, or perhaps even to a European powerhouse.

Either way, it doesn't read well for Burnley supporters. The Clarets prided themselves on a near-unbreakable defence in the Championship, something which they will arguably need to do yet again as they venture into the Premier League once more.

Keeping the main set of players who contributed to a defence which conceded just 16 goals and kept 30 clean sheets last season would set a good foundation for doing so, but if they all leave, then it could lead to some concerning times for Scott Parker as the new season closes in.