Burnley fans of course never really know what to believe when the media reports links to certain players in terms of transfer targets. What is actually fact, what is put about by agents, what is a stab in the dark by the papers themselves? You never know and all we can do is report what the media are saying so we can form our own opinion.
What is clear though is that we do appear to have a certain amount of money to spend, not a lot by Premier League standards but at least about £5 million if the rumours are true. The problem appears to be getting the players to come to Turf Moor and their current clubs to accept such deals. It is also clear we are still short of squad depth in certain key areas notably in the centre of defence and in midfield and that we only have until September 1st to plug the gaps! The transfer window closes that day and Premier League clubs also don`t have the luxury after that date to boost their squad via the loan market. We are stuck with what we have until January after that date and Sean Dyche would then have to name a squad of up to 25 players with certain criteria attached which we won`t go into here.
If the media reports are true we continue to struggle getting our targets across the line. The classic examples are Craig Dawson and Henri Lansbury. Lansbury this week accepted a new deal at Nottingham Forest finally it would appear scuppering our plans to sign him. Was it all a ploy by the player though to get a higher salary at the City Ground? Reports suggested he was keen to come to Burnley and ply his trade in the top flight and there were reports that Burnley made a £3.5 million bid for the former Arsenal midfielder. It has now been reported though he has accepted a new three-deal at his current club earning himself it is understood £16,000/week in the process which is double his previous salary! Call me a cynic!!
Meanwhile Craig Dawson continues to play for West Brom taking advantage of injuries to fellow centre backs, Joleon Lescott and Gareth McAuley who both missed the season opener against Sunderland at the Hawthorns. He was back playing yesterday at Southampton but for how long remains to be seen. It was interesting that Gareth McAuley was named on the bench although didn`t feature but it suggested at least he is not too far away to making a return ahead of Dawson in the pecking order. West Brom have already rejected a third bid from Burnley for the 24 year old defender due it seems to their central defence crisis The tabled offer was believed to be just over £2million. There has been no further news this week so it remains to be seen whether Burnley will come in with another offer before the window closes.
The Clarets might have more luck though signing Wigan midfielder James McArthur. According to the Daily Mail this week, Burnley who had a £4 million rejected earlier this month have now come in with an improved bid for the 26 year old Scotland international reported to be £5 million. There has been no news since Wednesday when the rumour broke so that might be a sign that Wigan are at least considering the offer. Later in the week though, it was rumoured that we could have competition following news that Fulham have entered the market for the former Hamilton player.
There was also one new link this week with reports that Burnley are targeting a move for Watford`s attacking midfielder Lewis McGugan (pictured above). The 25-year-old previously spent his whole career at Nottingham Forest before joining Watford in July 2013. McGugan clocked up 202 appearances at Forest, scoring 40 goals during his time at the City Ground. Last season playing for the Hornets he made 36 appearances finding the back of the net ten times. Media reports suggest McGugan could be a contingency in case they fail to sign McArthur but the Lancashire Telegraph suggests the link is nothing but his agent trying it on!
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