Patience key for Clarets in transfer market

Patience is key for Burnley as they look to add to their squad this summer.
Sean DycheSean Dyche
Sean Dyche

The Clarets are currently on a training camp in Cork, after returning to the Barnfield Training Centre last week.

But Sean Dyche will not be able to field any new faces in Claret and Blue tomorrow night as Burnley take on Cork City at Turners Cross, having been so far frustrated in his efforts to bring anyone into the club.

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The club’s transfer record has gone from £3m in 2014, with George Boyd equalling the capture of Steven Fletcher in 2009, to £15m, with last summer’s signing of Chris Wood, with Andre Gray, Steven Defour, Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady setting new records along the way.

The Clarets have had a combined £25m for West Brom pair Jay Rodriguez and Craig Dawson turned down, with the Baggies wanting closer to £38-40m for the duo, who are both thought to want to make the switch.

The window closes four weeks today, ahead of the new Premier League season, and, with a World Cup also complicating things, Dyche said: “It’s the usual really, I think it’s difficult to affect it with the way the club is run.

“We don’t want to lose the club’s values, so we have to be patient, that’s the key, we can’t just go and cherry pick players.

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“It’s not an easy situation, the way we go about it makes it tougher, so we have to bide our time.

“It can be frustrating, but we’ll keep working, and sometimes a couple of situations could also come out of the blue as well.”

Dyche has been pleased with the players at his disposal this week, having gone through the traditionally gruelling Gaffer’s Day on Wednesday, ahead of tomorrow night’s opening friendly, and he said: “We’ve been fortunate, the weather has been great, but not crazy, it’s been 25 degrees or so, which makes a difference from what’s it’s been back home.

“But it’s a great place, we came five years ago and really enjoyed it.

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“And the lads have worked hard and enjoyed themselves again.

“The game is a rare one for me, I really like the team to be right during pre-season, performing well and winning, but this one is to get players a game, that feel of playing again, with that competitive angle.

“But it is more about them coming through unscathed.”

Steven Defour will not feature with a minor calf niggle, while Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Nick Pope are also unavailable, after their World Cup exploits.

Gudmundsson’s Iceland were knocked out in the group stage after losing to England’s nemesis Croatia, while Pope will stay with the Three Lions as they prepare for their third place play-off with Belgium on Saturday: “Johann will be in next week, we gave him a bit of time off - Iceland were out in Russia early, earlier than England, so they have been away from their families.

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“They were knocked out a couple of weeks ago, so he’s had a break and will be back in.

“And we’re discussing about Popey, obviously he will be away until the play-off at the weekend, and he needs a break as well.

“He hasn’t played, but has been training all the way through, and will be sharp, but he needs some time off and we’ll wait and see with him.”