Yesterday the news was all about potentially losing Jay Rodriguez to Newcastle. Today there are reports that both Sheffield Wednesday and former club, Preston are showing interest in winger, Keith Treacy. It has also been widely expected that Andre Amougou might leave in the January window. He clearly seems out of favour and his contract is up in the summer.
Eddie Howe though would appear to have other ideas and seems adamant that he wants to retain all his current squad if he can and maybe even supplement it before the January window closes next week on Tuesday 31st January at 11pm
22 year old Derry City defender Daniel Lafferty is being linked with a ?200,000 (£167,000))move to Burnley after recently being on trial with the club. Watford though are also believed to be interested in the left-back. The Northern Ireland Under-21 international also had a trial at Brighton last month and Derby County were also interested in the player back in November but he was injured with a minor hamstring problem and was unavailable for a trial.
Lafferty spent five years at Celtic joining the club in 2006 after coming through Oxford United`s youth system; the period also included a loan spell at Ayr United. He signed for his hometown club, Derry City in 2010
Derry City manager Declan Devine sounds resigned to losing the player. He said on Wednesday:
‘It looks like he will be moving on. Burnley will be making a bid and Watford are also looking
‘He has only nine months left on his contract here. The club knows he could speak to clubs in the next transfer window and go for free. Daniel wants to play in England, he is good enough and the club has to look after its assets”
Eddie Howe has also been talking about potential new signings before the January window closes although he has not specifically mentioned Daniel Lafferty:
“There`s nothing currently happening, but we have a couple of irons in the fire.
“I`m pleased with the squad, but if we can identify anyone that comes into our budget, we will look to do something.
“We don`t have huge finances to play with at this stage, but we always have an eye on things,”
The January transfer deadline day this season falls on a matchday, with the Clarets playing Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Tuesday night.
Howe commenting on this situation said:
“It`s a strange one, I don`t think we will be too active, unless we get a sudden injury. It`s not ideal for everyone, so we`re pleased to have done bits of business early, and hopefully we won`t be involved in the chaos on deadline day.”
Meanwhile out-of-form winger, Keith Treacy has been linked with a move away from Burnley just six months after signing. League One, Sheffield Wednesday are thought to be interested and there is even talk that his former club, Preston North End want to bring him back to Deepdale!
It would appear though that Howe is having none of it telling the player ‘You`re not going anywhere`. There is a feeling amongst Clarets fans that the player may be unsettled and he has certainly suffered dips in performance this season whilst doubts remain over his fitness and motivation. The Republic of Ireland international has been in and out of the line-up all season without being able to cement a regular starting eleven place. It all started so promising for Treacy too coming off the bench to score on his debut against Watford on the opening day of the season.
Howe maintains the 23-year-old could still have a key role in the second half of the season with the Clarets now gearing up for their play-offs promotion challenge.
“Keith won`t be going anywhere,” said the Burnley gaffer
“It`s important we reiterate our desire to keep the whole squad together.
“Everyone has got a part to play in the run-in.”
It would appear this even applies to Andre Amougou!
Amougou, having been unceremoniously substituted at Norwich in the FA Cup and subsequently left out of the squad, is another player rumoured to be on his way out with many Clarets fans fearing he simply doesn`t see eye-to-eye with Eddie Howe and his management team. What do we know though? If you take Howe at his word even Amougou might still be in the gaffer`s plans for this season:
“He`s still a part of our squad, but the form of the back four has been so good, it`s difficult for him to get back in the side at present’
His contract though is set to expire in the summer so it remains to be seen how long he remains on our books.
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