Burnley linked with 8-goal Bundesliga striker as Scott Parker seeks attacking solutions
Burnley are considering a move for a Bundesliga forward as Scott Parker desperately seeks attacking improvements.
Burnley need to find solutions to their misfiring attack as soon as possible if they’re to maintain hope of remaining in the Premier League beyond one season, and Union Berlin forward Andrej Ilic has reportedly been identified as a possible option.
The Clarets are in the midst of a six-game losing streak in the Premier League, during which they’ve failed to score three times, netted just four goals overall, and slipped to 19th in the table - five points adrift of safety. Only Wolves (8) and Nottingham Forest (14) have scored fewer than their 16 goals so far. Burnley face Fulham on Saturday evening in what is simply a must-win fixture at Turf Moor, but while Scott Parker will be focused on picking up results in December, the powers that be at the club will be eyeing up January additions.
Burnley battling Premier League rivals for Andrej Ilic signing
According to Football Insider, Burnley are ‘battling multiple teams’ to land Union Berlin forward Andrej Ilic. The Serbia international joined the German side from Lille in the summer of 2024, initially on loan before completing a permanent transfer in July.
Ilic hit seven goals in 16 Bundesliga appearances last season, and while he’s failed to score in the league this season, he has proven a creative force with five assists in 12 outings. What’s more, the 25-year-old has managed a goal and two assists in two DFB-Pokal appearances. It’s understood that Burnley face competition from within the Premier League for the signature of Ilic, whose contract at Union Berlin has just 18 months left to run.
Ilic’s career has taken an interesting path so far, with the forward starting his career in the Partizan Belgrade youth system before joining fellow Serbian side Napredak. Between then and joining Lille, the striker represented Javor-Matis in his homeland, RFS in Latvia and Valerenga in Norway. During his time in Latvia, Ilic fired RFS to a domestic double in 2021 and another league title two years later.
Andrej Ilic’s career stats to date
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Napredak | 31 | 3 | 2 |
| RFS | 87 | 42 | 17 |
| Valerenga | 16 | 11 | 0 |
| Lille | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Union Berlin | 30 | 8 | 7 |
| Serbia | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What next for Burnley?
Burnley face a critical period in their battle for top-flight survival. As mentioned, Parker’s side host Fulham next, with the Cottagers just four places and seven points above them in the Premier League table. After that, it’s Bournemouth away and then a pair of home games against Everton and Newcastle United to round off 2025.
Parker will hope Burnley can pick up at least a couple of wins at home to stop the slide and give his side a fighting chance heading into the new year, which kicks in very difficult fashion away at Brighton, before Manchester United at home, Liverpool away and Tottenham Hotspur at home - with an FA Cup tie at home to Millwall along the way.