Burnley boss Sean Dyche - Clarets will have to stretch finances to reach the next level

But he accepts the club will have to stretch their transfer outlay to do so.

The Clarets finished seventh and earned a return to continental football in 2018, playing in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League.

It was a tough ask to match that achievement, and Burnley ended up 15th last season, having struggled over the first half of the season on the back of their European exertions.

The Clarets sit 10th in the Premier League, with nine games remaining of the current season - only four points adrift of sixth place.

And Dyche, talking on Sky Sports' The Football Show, said: "I think it is difficult, I don't think it's impossible, but it is very difficult.

"We all know investment usually, not always, adds to the quality and depth of your squad, and if you get your investment right, it pushes others.

"You (Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville) were at clubs where big players came in, and it pushes the level, so it's not just the expense, it's about buying the right players that can push the others.

"We call it raising the minimum, if we can do that, the maximum will look after itself.

"Those days when it's a bit soft, they go that little bit higher, therefore, over a season, which we've tried to do, keep edging forward.

"It's unlikely we're going to make huge strides in one go, because of finance, but can we edge it forward, increase the potential of each player and the squad?

"That's what we've done pretty well, although I still think there's more we can do.

"There is a level of investment that's still important, I've spoken about stretching the finances in the last couple of seasons, to make sure it's still within the club's realms, because we don't want to ruin the club and stretch too far, but we are going to have to stretch in the future, depending on how the market changes with the virus and the finances of the world."

Expectations grow as Burnley continue to prosper at Premier League level, as with a fifth-successive season - and sixth in seven - all but rubber-stamped.

That can be a double-edged sword, with Dyche's own position being questioned midway through last season, with the club 18th at halfway, and earlier this year as Burnley lost four games on the spin.

Dyche added: "You want a higher demand, of people to think more of you, we had a tough spell and lost four and people are starting to make noises.

"'Ooh, could be time for a change', so it's in the balance.

"You want that thinking, 'Burnley are a different side now, they're expected to do more', but there still has to be a reality to it.

"It's unlikely that, taking away the virus situation, because that might change things anyway with the markets and stuff, but in a general season, it's unlikely we'll spend floods of money, we have to find a balance to the way we work, but there has to be a reality within that, because it's not that you can't achieve things with low budgets, because we have done that, but it is more difficult.

"Mostly our fans have stood by that, if we've had a wobble, most understand that can be a part of what Burnley is, to have a tough spell, we've generally finished the season strong and in good shape.

"I think it's good in one way, it gives you a push to remind yourself people are taking you more seriously, on the other hand there is still a balance and reality to what we do here, and every season is a tough season.

"The expectation is it's going to be hard, it's going to be difficult, and we have to find a way of being in the Premier League, and so far we've done that."