Burnley FC transfer activity
After Burnley’s relatively comfortable second place finish in the Championship last season, most of their fans believed that they would try to strengthen their numerically small squad. Thus far they have not signed proven top flight players that the fans had expected.
Noted transfers
There have been roughly two weeks of pre season so far, in which Burnley have signed five players. The first of them being thirty-three year old Stephen Reid who makes his way to Burnley after his four year contract came to an end at West Bromwich Albion. Reid has for years displayed that he can perform consistently and intelligently in the top flight, however, many early career problems with his hamstring are beginning to show, with his poor acceleration. Reid should add some steel, admittedly weakening steel to the right flank.
The clarets have also signed twenty-eight year old goalkeeper Michael Knightly, permanently from Stoke on a free transfer. Knightly’s performances last season on loan at Burnley have influenced manager Sean Dyche to sign the big shot stopper on a two year deal at Turf Moor.
Dyche has also signed the three time capped Scottish international goalkeeper Matt Gilks from Blackpool.
Striker Marvin Sordell has also arrived at Turf Moor on a three year deal from Bolton. The twenty-three year old striker has a poor scoring record; however, he is very intelligent on the ball and brilliant at bringing others into play. Sordell represented team GB in the London 2012 Olympics, coming off the bench three times. In my opinion, I can’t see him making much impact for Burnley.
The clarets have also signed thirty-two year old former West Ham midfielder Matt Taylor. Taylor was at Upton Park for three years and in his time with the hammers made seventy-six appearances and scored two goals. Taylor is an all action midfielder and Burnley should profit from his high work rate.
Rumoured transfers
Burnley are believed to have offered £1.5 million for Middlesbrough’s Lukas Jutkiewicz. However, Middlesbrough are not content with the sum and would want a much higher bid before any negotiations are made for the striker to leave the Riverside Stadium.
West Brom’s Craig Dawson has expressed his interest in joining the clarets. No comment has been made by the club regarding his rumoured signing.
Players they could do with
Many players. Burnley currently only have twenty-two players in the first team. When you think of most of the clubs in the Premier League they will struggle. Dyche will not be able to rotate the squad when there important youngsters and older players are burnt out . I believe that they should sign somebody with some pace and flair. Last season they struggled when teams sat back and seemingly had no plan B to their clever intrequite passing game. A player like Dundee United’s Gary Mackay-Steven would be brilliant for them. Mackay-Steven for the past three seasons has lit up the Scottish Premiership, a move for him or Celtic’s James Forrest could turn out to be brilliant.
Burnley could also do with a leading centre back and has performed in the Premiership while leading, something none of their central defenders have ever experienced. Someone like Swansea’s Ashley Williams would be perfect, although very unlikely.
If Burnley fail to add to their weak squad, I think they will struggle and possibly finish bottom.
Article by Joseph James
After Burnley’s relatively comfortable second place finish in the Championship last season, most of their fans believed that they would try to strengthen their numerically small squad. Thus far they have not signed proven top flight players that the fans had expected.
Noted transfers
There have been roughly two weeks of pre season so far, in which Burnley have signed five players. The first of them being thirty-three year old Stephen Reid who makes his way to Burnley after his four year contract came to an end at West Bromwich Albion. Reid has for years displayed that he can perform consistently and intelligently in the top flight, however, many early career problems with his hamstring are beginning to show, with his poor acceleration. Reid should add some steel, admittedly weakening steel to the right flank.
The clarets have also signed twenty-eight year old goalkeeper Michael Knightly, permanently from Stoke on a free transfer. Knightly’s performances last season on loan at Burnley have influenced manager Sean Dyche to sign the big shot stopper on a two year deal at Turf Moor.
Dyche has also signed the three time capped Scottish international goalkeeper Matt Gilks from Blackpool.
Striker Marvin Sordell has also arrived at Turf Moor on a three year deal from Bolton. The twenty-three year old striker has a poor scoring record; however, he is very intelligent on the ball and brilliant at bringing others into play. Sordell represented team GB in the London 2012 Olympics, coming off the bench three times. In my opinion, I can’t see him making much impact for Burnley.
The clarets have also signed thirty-two year old former West Ham midfielder Matt Taylor. Taylor was at Upton Park for three years and in his time with the hammers made seventy-six appearances and scored two goals. Taylor is an all action midfielder and Burnley should profit from his high work rate.
Rumoured transfers
Burnley are believed to have offered £1.5 million for Middlesbrough’s Lukas Jutkiewicz. However, Middlesbrough are not content with the sum and would want a much higher bid before any negotiations are made for the striker to leave the Riverside Stadium.
West Brom’s Craig Dawson has expressed his interest in joining the clarets. No comment has been made by the club regarding his rumoured signing.
Players they could do with
Many players. Burnley currently only have twenty-two players in the first team. When you think of most of the clubs in the Premier League they will struggle. Dyche will not be able to rotate the squad when there important youngsters and older players are burnt out . I believe that they should sign somebody with some pace and flair. Last season they struggled when teams sat back and seemingly had no plan B to their clever intrequite passing game. A player like Dundee United’s Gary Mackay-Steven would be brilliant for them. Mackay-Steven for the past three seasons has lit up the Scottish Premiership, a move for him or Celtic’s James Forrest could turn out to be brilliant.
Burnley could also do with a leading centre back and has performed in the Premiership while leading, something none of their central defenders have ever experienced. Someone like Swansea’s Ashley Williams would be perfect, although very unlikely.
If Burnley fail to add to their weak squad, I think they will struggle and possibly finish bottom.
Article by Joseph James