CLARETS boss Sean Dyche says it’s a ‘real positive’ that Burnley do not need to sell prized asset Charlie Austin when the transfer window opens next week – but is still delighted that his hotshot striker is a wanted man.

However, the former Watford manager insists neither he nor the club would welcome any bids for any of the current crop of Clarets.

Former brickie Austin bagged his 20th league goal of the campaign on Boxing Day in the win over Derby County and his record has naturally led to speculation that the big boys will come a calling in a bid to prize the 23-year-old away from Turf Moor.

Dyche has been told by the Burnley board that they have no need to sell Austin – but the manager is also a realist and said: “I wouldn’t welcome any bids but it’s the reality of the market, the ying and yang of it.

“The good side of it is that our players are coveted. What a great situation to be in.

“But the balance to that is that you don’t want to lose your best players.

“We are no different to any other club. The board on the other hand are quite secure with what they’re doing financially so I know there’s no need to sell, so that’s a real positive for us.”

Dyche admits that he is not sure if he will be allowed any window shopping – but is also hoping to be able to boost his squad, even if it means fringe players leaving.

“I’m not sure there’ll be finance available for us,” he said. “But we’ll come across that when we get there.

“The board have made it quite clear there is a balance that needs to be found. That doesn’t mean it’s nothing all the time, but we’re going to have to cut our cloth accordingly and acquire players wisely and look at a number of different sources to do that.

“The market’s still fluid, for all we know someone comes in for one of your players and then you’ve got a chance to go and get someone.

“It’s an open book, but my point is that we’re not going to throw millions or hundreds of thousands at it.

“It might be more a case of maybe one in, one out – that kind of thing.

“But there’s nothing drastic."