Search for new signings continues at Turf Moor

Burnley continue to look to add to their two summer signings to date.
Photo: David Hurst
Accrington Stanley V Burnley.
Sean DychePhoto: David Hurst
Accrington Stanley V Burnley.
Sean Dyche
Photo: David Hurst Accrington Stanley V Burnley. Sean Dyche

But boss Sean Dyche admits it is unlikely the club will bring in any fresh faces ahead of Tuesday night’s friendly at Ibrox against Rangers (kick-off 7-45 p.m.).

Dyche has so far moved to replace Kieran Trippier and Danny Ings with Matt Lowton and Jelle Vossen, but as he looks to strengthen his squad further, his efforts have so far been frustrated.

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He said: “There are things in the offing at the moment and a number of different situations.

“We can push on some, others we have to wait on.

“There are a couple of things that are shifting slowly but surely, and are shifting in our direction.

“I doubt we would have anyone in before setting off for Scotland because we’re leaving early morning (Monday), but you never know.

“It takes all parties to recognise it and to agree it.

“There are a lot of conversations and a lot of aligning. Clubs can often move someone out and get someone in.

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“It’s as simple as it seems half the time, it just gets complex when agents get involved.”

Burnley have been linked with 20-year-old Everton striker Chris Long, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Brentford – having been identified by Frank McParland, who is now sporting director at Turf Moor.

Dyche, asked about Long, would only say: “No.

“There are lots of good players who we’ve been linked with, but there’s only reality in some of them.”

However, it has been reported that McParland made an agreement that he will not revisit his old club’s deals.

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There is continued speculation surrounding Nottingham Forest winger Jamie Paterson, but Forest boss Dougie Freedman admitted: “I spoke to Sean Dyche in the last few weeks, just for a chat on the phone.

“We were talking for a while and we did not once mention Jamie Paterson.

“I am guessing that it is agent talk.

“Either way, I cannot lose my better players. If there is an injury to Michail (Antonio), then Jamie would be in. I want to keep my good players.

“If somebody comes in with an offer for a player that I believe can help us move forward, then we will move forward with that.

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“But there is no way that I am letting anyone go who is going to be close to the team for us this season. No way.”

Meanwhile, Dyche is looking forward to a prestige game at Rangers tomorrow night – one which has whetted the appetite of Burnley fans.

Dyche has worked previously with new Gers boss Mark Warburton and said: “There’s a great respect, certainly for Mark Warburton, who I know personally, and worked with. He’s a good friend and someone I respect.

“And Rangers are a very big club. They’ve had their fair share of challenges, ours is just a football challenge – we’re going up there anyway, and it made it a lot easier to iron our that situation when Mark was appointed.

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“There’s another game the next day because we want the players to get plenty of game time.

“I know people say it’s pre-season, it’s their job to run and get fit, but there’s a psychology to it, you want players fresh, you want a change of scenery - we’ve made vast improvements at Gawthorpe, and many more coming, but you still want that freshness.

“We felt two mini-breaks this year would be a better way of doing it, while still involving our fans in a jaunt up to Scotland.

“It’s a shame we couldn’t do it at the weekend, but that’s sometimes just how the fixtures fall.”