Burnley transfer Q&A: Zian Flemming’s future, Axel Tuanzebe, Ashley Barnes and incomings

Zian Flemming’s future, the latest goings on regarding Axel Tuanzebe and Ashley Barnes and Burnley’s wait for incomings - it’s all in our transfer Q&A!

It’s been a quiet window on the incoming front to date, with the Clarets bringing in just one newcomer in the form of 19-year-old winger Lluc Castell from ‘sister’ club Espanyol.

Going the other way, however, has been a different story, with Maxime Esteve, Quilindschy Hartman, Lesley Ugochukwu, Jaidon Anthony and Loum Tchaouna all moving on.

Martin Dubravka and Vaclav Hladky also departed after coming to the end of their contracts at the end of June.

Earlier this week we asked for you to send in your transfer-related questions for our Burnley FC writer Matt Scrafton and you didn’t disappoint.

What’s happening with Axel Tuanzebe?

The centre-back is now officially a free agent after coming to the end of his one-year deal at the end of June. The club held no option to extend. The Clarets confirmed as part of its retained list they remained in discussions with the defender over extending his stay at Turf Moor, and it’s understood a new contract has been tabled. But the 28-year-old, understandably so, wanted to prioritise this summer’s World Cup, where he starred for DR Congo on their route to the knockout stages. Within 24 hours of that display in the round of 32 against England, it was no coincidence Tuanzebe was linked with Premier League newcomers Hull City. Let’s not forget this is a player that turned down the chance at Ipswich Town last summer to join Burnley because he wanted to stay in the Premier League, so don’t be at all surprised that’s the route he goes down once again. But as it stands, he’s resting up following the World Cup, he’s a free agent and his future remains undecided.

Why wasn’t Ashley Barnes on the US tour?

We saw Barnes post an image to his social media pages of him keeping fit here back in England while the Burnley squad jetted out for their US pre-season tour. Like Tuanzebe, Barnes is also officially a free agent after coming to the end of his contract at the end of June. His situation is slightly different though, given his ties to the club, given his age and given the fact he’s been completing his coaching badges with the Clarets’ help. Ultimately, whether he’s offered a new deal to stay on the playing side is up to new head coach Nicky Hayen, but there might be a situation where he stays, but perhaps in a slightly different player-coach role. But if the fan favourite is keen to carry on playing, he might have to look elsewhere should there be no opportunity to remain at Turf Moor. But similarly to Tuanzebe, the situation remains very much in the air.

What’s happening with Zian Flemming?

The Dutchman has made it clear in more than one interview that he’s keen to remain in the Premier League. Having battled the hard way to make it to the top flight, starting out in his native Netherlands before plying his trade in the Championship for a few years, the striker was a relative late arrival in the Premier League at the age of 27. But, despite Burnley’s struggles, he didn’t let the opportunity pass him by as he enjoyed a great season on a personal level, scoring 11 league goals. While Burnley fans will rightly be disappointed should he move on, I think most - if not all - will accept he deserves another chance at the Premier League. The fact he’s played no part in Burnley’s pre-season to date is telling. While he’s been linked with Brentford, they’ve since bolstered their forward options with the signing of another Burnley man, Jaidon Anthony, as well as free agent Callum Wilson. Leeds United have also been mentioned as a potential destination.

There’s been lots of sales, but what about incomings?

It’s certainly been a summer of departures to date, but Burnley fans have become accustomed to that in recent times off the back of three relegations in the last five years. But on the incoming front, there’s only been Lluc Castell arriving permanently from Espanyol. Much of that, you’d imagine, is down to the relatively late arrival of new boss Nicky Hayen, who arrived 71 days after Scott Parker’s departure. While the Clarets have recruitment and scouting teams and will already have a list of potential targets in mind, you need to know exactly what you’re planning for in terms of playing style, profiles . Personally speaking, I just hope business isn’t left too late. While there’s no mad rush and you want to ensure you get the right players through the door, we don’t have particularly long until the season gets underway, with that Carabao Cup first round tie kicking off in three weeks’ time. We also don’t want a repeat of the chaos we witnessed two years ago. While Scott Parker somehow managed to turn that chaos into a 100-point promotion-winning campaign, there’s no guarantee it can be repeated.