Media reports today suggest Burnley defender, Tyrone Mears is seeking a move away from Turf Moor.
It is clear he is looking to further his career with a Premier League club and does not feel a move down to the Championship following our relegation would be an option.
In many ways this is probably not unexpected although things had been quiet recently with no rumours of any clubs, Premier League or otherwise being interested in the former Manchester City, Preston, West Ham and Derby right back.
The 27 year old was an ever present for the Clarets last season and played the full ninety minutes of all our League matches. He was signed by Owen Coyle last summer from Derby County for £500,000 penning a three-year contract.
He soon became a fans favourite and put in some impressive performances. He was solid in the back four and could charge down the flanks setting up countless goal-scoring opportunities for his team mates.
Clarets fans were so impressed along with Owen Coyle that he was even being touted as a potential England right-back with the possibility of playing in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa!
It appeared though when Owen Coyle jumped ship in January to leave for Bolton that Mears was one of the players to be affected the most.
He just seemed to go off the boil for a time and started playing with less enthusiasm. He put in too many lacklustre performances although he was still solid in defence for most of the time. It was perhaps his performances in the latter half of last season that has cooled interest from other Premier League clubs.
Sunderland had been linked with the right back in the January window but nothing came of that and it is now understood that the Black Cats are once more looking to strengthen that position. It will be interesting to see if Mears is now once more on their radar but according to the Sunday Mirror today it looks like Sunderland have turned their attentions instead to Aston Villa and England right back Luke Young. A £3 million deal is also being mooted
Mears leaving will be a blow to Brian Laws having just lost also our star striker, Steven Fletcher. Our right back alternatives are also limited. Michael Duff we know can play there but he is far more suited to central defence. It is difficult to see Graham Alexander returning to the back four after becoming our established holding midfielder and he is not getting any younger for a role that also requires some pace down the flanks.
This could be a big opportunity though for Richard Eckersley who has struggled to make the first team since his arrival from Manchester United last summer.
Laws though I think would be looking to increase his options by bringing in a new right back. Let’s face it we have enough dosh now to get a goodun!
Burnley will want of course to maximise the profits on their investment if they have to sell Mears although there is an indication that the defender is hoping that the club will moderate their asking price to tempt Premier League clubs to come in for him. It would appear he is hoping that the asking price is no more than a million
Oh well here we go again seeing if the club can support their statement that we have ‘gone down stronger’ and ‘don’t have to sell’ Yeah right!
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