Burnley boss Dyche “we’re not there yet on Barnes”

But Clarets boss Sean Dyche insists nothing is set in stone just yet over the 24-year-old Bath-born forward.

Burnley had three bids rejected in the summer transfer window, the last of which came in at £500,000, before going back in as soon as the January window opened on New Year’s Day with an offer of £750,000.

That was again knocked back, but with the former Plymouth man out of contract in the summer and able to leave on a free transfer, the Seagulls appear to have been tempted by the Clarets’ latest gambit.

Dyche wasn’t able to confirm a bid had been accepted, however, and he said this morning: “We’re trying to progress things on a number of different fronts, and it’s about the one that gets over the line.

“We have a few different targets and we’re searching through them, pushing as hard as we can to get a deal done, and possibly one or two more.

“Ashley Barnes is in process, along with three or four things, but it takes the details to be decided to make it happen. We’re not there yet. “We’ve seen before these things don’t always get done, we’re aware of other options and waiting for that to gather clarity.”

Burnley were also linked with Middlesbrough’s Lukas Jutkiewicz on Wednesday, although stories suggesting an offer had been rejected by Boro were wide of the mark.

Dyche added: “There are a number of players we’re looking at - it’s ok looking, but we’re trying to get deals done while working under certain limitations financially.

“There are players we’re interested in, but they have to fit the team, obviously, and fit the model of the club - we won’t be throwing money about left, right and centre, they have to fit the immediate future, mid and long term.

“We’ve not got the resources to get players and throw them away, it’s important to get the right ones, although you don’t have a crystal ball.

“We do our homework as well as we can.”

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