Former Clarets manager Eddie Howe according to the Daily Star is quote:
‘Primed to raid former club Burnley to bring Marvin Bartley, 26, back to Dean Court’
Howe returned to Bournemouth in October with suggestions that he would not attempt to bid for our players.
There were strong rumours at the time that Marvin Bartley could follow his former gaffer at Dean Court back to Bournemouth via a loan but in the end he remained on Burnley’s books. Bartley has not been as impressive this season and has struggled to make the starting eleven for the Clarets under Sean Dyche. He did make a start against Barnsley at Oakwell last month but generally had a poor game looking unfit and off the pace.
The 26 year old midfielder joined Burnley from Bournemouth in January 2011 for a fee thought to be in the region of £1 million and has since made over 50 appearances for the club.
Our colleagues over at Vital Bournemouth are suggesting there might be some truth in the rumour. The Cherries midfielder Shaun MacDonald ruptured his ankle ligament against Colchester last Saturday, forcing him out for around ten weeks. It could be that Howe sees Bartley therefore as a possible replacement if he could lure him back.
Would Bartley though want to drop back down to League 1 having tasted Championship football? Would Dyche want to release him or does he rate the midfielder as part of his future plans? Would Clarets fans be happy either way?
Of course, there might be nothing in the rumour and it could just be ‘lazy journalism’ from the Star but what do you think? Let us know below the article.
Share this article
