MICHAEL Duff says Burnley will prove there is life after Danny Ings, following the capture of Belgian striker Jelle Vossen for around £2.5million.

The 26-year-old became a key target for the Clarets this summer, knowing they were set to lose their top scorer for the last two seasons at the end of his contract.

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After agreeing a three-year deal at Turf Moor yesterday, Vossen was expected to meet up with his new team-mates on the first night of their pre-season training camp in south east France, although the move was subject to a medical and personal terms being agreed at the time of going to press.

For Duff, Ings was the latest in a long line of strikers he has seen leave in his time at Turf Moor.

But the defender, who last week signed a new deal at Burnley, expects a new chapter to be started with a new-look strikeforce.

“It’s an opportunity for someone to come in up front because every team needs a goalscorer,” he said.

“Last time in the Championship Danny Ings and Sam Vokes both scored over 20.

“Sam will get back to the way he was, and the manager has been looking to bring in at least one centre forward, I imagine.”

Ings is not the only key departure, with Kieran Trippier also leaving for Tottenham Hotspur.

The Clarets were quick to replace the right back with Matt Lowton arriving from Aston Villa as their first summer signing in a £1million-plus deal.

And now Vossen has been added to the ranks.

“It’s going to be a big test to replace them because they were big players,” said Duff.

“But previously we’ve lost big players like Charlie Austin, Jay Rodriguez, Ade Akinbiyi, Robbie Blake, Andy Gray - it’s not a Doomsday scenario.

“We’ve signed Matt Lowton, who’s got a good pedigree and hopefully he will come in and fill Tripps’ boots.”

Duff added: “It’s been a privilege for an old man like me to, in a few years, say I played next to Tripps for so long.

“I like to think I’ve had a little bit of an influence on his career.

“They are both very talented footballers but also both are decent human beings. Sometimes the two don’t go together.

“Good luck to them.”

There have been question marks over Jason Shackell’s future going into the last of his four-year contract with Burnley.

The captain remains a target for former club Derby County, despite a firm rebuff when the Clarets rejected a £2m offer last month.

Duff hopes he will not have to bid farewell to a third team-mate this summer.

“I’d like him to stay. I’ve got a good relationship with him,” said Shackell’s centre half partner.

“Football’s a weird industry sometimes because someone’s there one day then gone the next.

“If he doesn’t go, great. But if he goes, life goes on.

“With his performances over the last two years it is no surprise that there is interest in him.

“He’s been captain for the last three years of a very successful team, and that means teams wanting to be successful will want your players.”