BURNLEY are set to end their keeper hunt by bagging 'The Beast'.

Former West Bromwich Albion stopper Brian Jensen, freed this summer, has emerged as the number one target to put the frighteners on First Division strikers next season.

And I can exclusively reveal the Clarets hope to have Jensen's signature in the bag as early as this weekend.

The 6ft 2in Dane, affectionately nicknamed 'The Beast' by Baggies fans due to his bulky frame, has found himself frozen out of the first team picture for two years since the arrival at The Hawthorns of England hopeful Russell Hoult, who replaced Blackburn-bound Alan Miller.

Jensen -- ex Albion boss Brian Little's last signing three days before he was sacked -- unluckily fractured a foot while running in August 2001 to initially surrender his gloves to Hoult.

He did briefly threaten a comeback, making his 50th Baggies appearances in October of that year against Millwall.

But that was to be Jensen's final start for the club following further agony when he suffered three further foot fractures in a frustrating year.

The strapping 28-year-old dropped even further down the pecking order last season when Republic of Ireland starlet Joe Murphy signed from Tranmere to boost Albion's numbers following promotion to the Premiership.

A row with Baggies boss Gary Megson then effectively ended Jensen's Albion career, when the keeper became an outcast by declaring: "Any footballer not getting regular games is not happy."

However, Jensen's vast experience prior to arriving in England has tempted Burnley boss Stan Ternent to plump for the Dane.

Previous clubs include Rennes, where he played in the same side as Arsenal's French striker Sylvain Wiltord during the mid 1990s, and later Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar.

Previous Clarets' target Stephen Bywater, who has refused a new contract at West Ham, does not carry such a pedigree.

And left-footed Jensen, described as a great shot-stopper and a towering figure in his own penalty area, now appears to be the focus of attention.

Talks are planned this weekend with the aim of making Jensen the third new arrival at Turf Moor in a week, following the captures of ex-Wolves defender Mo Camara and former Manchester United rookie Lee Roche.

Further signings are sure to follow as Ternent adds to his depleted numbers following this summer's mass clear-out.

A centre half and at least two midfielders head Ternent's shopping list, and more new faces could be imminent as the end of June -- when player's contracts traditionally end -- draws close.