Jensen close to extending Burnley stay?

Nizic, 17, had a spell on trial with Portsmouth last term, but Pompey were unable to sign him due to a transfer embargo forced on them after entering administration for the second time in as many years.

And it is thought the former Sydney youngster has elected to move north instead.

While he is one for the future, boss Eddie Howe still hopes to persuade the club’s longest-serving player Jensen to move into a 10th season at Turf Moor.

The Danish keeper was offered fresh terms at the end of last season, but would have to accept a reduced package should he stay.

Howe said: “We hope to come to agreement with Brian.

“He has been such a fantastic servant to the football club for such a long time.

“He is still a very good goalkeeper and a big personality.

“He is someone we have enjoyed working with and we would like to keep him.”

He added: “Things have dragged on throughout the summer, through no fault of Brian’s.

“It’s been a tough one for us because despite the transfer fee we got for Jay (Rodriguez) we have to be very careful with the money we spend.

“I know Brian wants to stay and we are desperate for him to stay, so hopefully we can come to an agreement.”

Another player Howe is keen to keep hold of is forward Alex MacDonald, who furthered his experience at the end of last season with a successful loan spell with Plymouth Argyle.

Howe admitted: “We would like him to stay.

“I think he probably needs, another loan spell this year to aid his development, and I have spoken to Alex on this.

“We would like him to stay but the ball is very much in his court on that one.”

Meanwhile, with the Clarets due in for the start of pre-season training next Friday, Howe could be without his first-choice central defensive duo.

Michael Duff is likely to be absent after picking up an injury with Northern Ireland in their 6-0 defeat against Holland in Amsterdam at the start of the month.

And David Edgar will be given extra time to recover from a punishing international schedule with Canada.

Howe explained that Duff “rolled his ankle and tweaked his knee” against the Dutch, and he said: “He has been for a scan. We don’t envisage there being too many problems.

“We hope he can start pre-season training but if not it will be just after the rest of the lads.

“He did tweak his knee slightly and I think he would have been out for a period time in the middle of the season.

“But hopefully with the break he will be okay.

“We are going to wrap him up in cotton wool I think and hopefully get him through pre-season and the early games of the season injury-free because he proved last season what a big player he is for us.”

Edgar will have an extra 10 days’ rest after featuring in three international games this month, against United States, Cuba and Honduras.

Howe said: “David will be given an extended break.

“He has been travelling and playing really throughout the break so will give him an extra ten days.

“He will report back on Monday, July 16th.

“You also have to remember while the other players were enjoying the international breaks he was flying all over the world so he deserves a little bit of extended rest.”

• The Burnley Express has launched a FREE football app which is now available to download on iPhone and Android devices.