Burnley set to wrap up signing of Sweden international defender Hjalmar Ekdal

The three-cap international is expected to finalise his switch to Turf Moor later today and follow fellow centre back Ameen Al-Dakhil through the door at the club.

Boss Vincent Kompany, who will be without Manchester City starlet Taylor Harwood-Bellis for a couple of months due to a foot injury sustained by the England Under 21 skipper in the FA Cup tie at Bournemouth, had set out to bolster his defensive options this month.

Harwood-Bellis is one of three defenders on loan with the Clarets, alongside Jordan Beyer [Borussia Monchengladbach] and Ian Maatsen [Chelsea], a factor which had encouraged Kompany to do some forward planning.

The 24-year-old has been given permission to speak to the second tier’s table-toppers by parent club Djurgaardens, who he has made a half-century of appearances for in the Swedish Allsvenskan.

The ex-IK Sirius and Hammarby defender, who has scored four times this season, including once against Apoel Nicosia at the Tele2 Arena in the Europa Conference League, is expected to put pen-to-paper on a long-term deal after a fee in the region of £2.5m was agreed.

Burnley’s second signing of the January transfer window might also allow Luke McNally to move out on loan, with the former Oxford United defender looking to get some more game time under his belt.

With League One side Sheffield Wednesday said to have enquired about the 23-year-old defender, Kompany said: “We were very transparent with Luke and I think the conversations were really constructive. he is a really talented player who already has a lot to offer.

"The best way for him to improve now is with game time so with the right type of move, if we have a feeling he can go somewhere and play, then it is something we will allow.”