Turf Moor, the home of Burnley Football Club.. (Photo by Carl Recine - Pool/Getty Images)Turf Moor, the home of Burnley Football Club.. (Photo by Carl Recine - Pool/Getty Images)
Turf Moor, the home of Burnley Football Club.. (Photo by Carl Recine - Pool/Getty Images)

Burnley rival Newcastle United for £13m-rated defender as ex-England man praises Clarets star

As speculation continues around Nick Pope’s future, one former Burnley goalkeeper is tipping the 28-year-old to go to the very top.

Former England number one Paul Robinson spent the final few years of his career at Turf Moor, making just three appearances in two years.

Robinson, however, did enjoy the pleasure of working alongside Pope, who has been strongly linked with Tottenham Hotspur over recent weeks.

The retired Robinson is not surprised to see Pope on the radar of the so called ‘Big Six’, believing he is one of the best in the Premier League.

“When I first saw him I knew he was destined for the top level,” the 41-year-old told Football Insider.

“He showed undoubted talent when I was there, while it was very raw. His natural ability was always there and his height and his size helps him.

“He would make saves in training and you would go, ‘Wow. How did he get to that?’

“Billy Mercer has worked very hard with him over the past few years, particularly on his footwork and his movement around the goal and it is paying dividends.

“He has developed into a top goalkeeper at Burnley, he is one of the best in the league now.”

Meanwhile, Burnley have shown interest in Benfica defender Nuno Tavares, according to Portuguese outlet O Jogo.

The Clarets are joined by Napoli and Newcastle United in the race, though it is believed the latter’s interest is the “most intense at the moment” and have “already left the promise to soon put an offer for Tavares on the table”.

It is not the first time Newcastle have targeted the 21-year-old. Apparently, the Magpies were willing to pay around £13million to bring him to St James’ Park, a season and a half ago.

Here are the latest transfer headlines from Burnley and their Premier League rivals: