KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian football fans are abuzz with excitement as Burnley captain Josh Brownhill and attacking midfielder Zian Flemming are reportedly close to finalising their paperwork to represent Harimau Malaya.
According to talent scouting portal frfuturetalents, both players could debut for the national team as early as November.
"Sources indicate that Brownhill and Flemming are in the final stages of documentation and are expected to make their debut by November," claimed frfuturetalents.
Brownhill's potential arrival could significantly boost the national team's market value, which currently stands at €6.38 million (RM29 million).
The midfielder is valued at €13 million (RM59.8 million), while Flemming is worth €4.2 million (RM19.3 million), potentially pushing the squad's total value to nearly RM100 million.
For context, the most valuable player currently in the Malaysian team is Dion Cools, valued at €800,000 (RM3.7 million).
The additions of Brownhill, Flemming, and Eredivisie player Mats Deijl — valued at €1.2 million (RM5.5 million) — could significantly reshape both the financial and competitive prospects of the national squad.
All three players share Malaysian ancestry, a requirement for representing Harimau Malaya, and are in the process of completing the necessary paperwork.
Brownhill, 29, qualifies through his grandmother, while Flemming, 26, traces his roots through his father.
Flemming, born in the Netherlands, played for Millwall in the Championship last season before joining Burnley.
His ability to play as a forward offers national coach Pau Marti Vicente's attacking option.