BURNLEY last night smashed their transfer record to sign Andre Gray on a three-year deal from today’s opponents Brentford for a fee believed to be in the region of £6million plus add-ons.

The striker will not be eligible to make his debut against his former club, having signed too late for the Turf Moor clash.

But the Clarets have made a statement of their intent to win promotion back to the Premier League by doubling the previous £3million record fee paid for Steven Fletcher, from Hibernian in June 2009, and also for George Boyd from Hull City on last year’s summer transfer deadline day to land the 24-year-old - and adding to their plethora of forwards.

Gray, who can play out wide and will wear the number seven shirt, insists the pricetag will not be a burden, and the opportunity to work with Sean Dyche was a big factor in his decision to turn down interest from other clubs and join the Clarets.

“It was quite an easy decision in the end,” he said. “As soon as Burnley’s name came up I definitely wanted to speak to them and find out what they had to say.

“It was quite straight forward after that. I spoke to my agent and (former Brentford manager) Mark Warburton and his assistant too. (David Weir) “They have a good relationship with the gaffer, so I got another honest opinion from someone I trust and they sang the praises of Burnley Football Club and especially the manager.

“The gaffer was a massive influence. If you look at it, Danny Ings has gone on and Charlie Austin has been involved with England.

“Then there’s Jay Rodriguez, so the list goes on really and that’s something I want to be a part of.

“Obviously he (Dyche) was at Watford as well with Troy Deeney and you’ve seen his rise. He’s got this club promoted to the Premier League too, so his record speaks for itself and it was a no-brainer really.”

Of making Gray his sixth summer signing, Dyche said: “Andre is a player who we have been aware of since his Hinckley Town days in non-league.

“My coach Tony Loughlan flagged him up there and we have watched his development. I am pleased to say that has gone very well so far.

“He has worked very, very hard to get to the level he’s at. He has risen up the ladder and, in many ways, had a similar pathway to two former strikers here, Danny Ings and Charlie Austin.

“In that respect there is a rawness, a hunger and a great desire from him to continue his education and go even further, and we intend that to be with us in the immediacy and also in the future.”

Gray has been the subject of interest from Championship and Premier League clubs, with Hull City and Steve Cotterill’s Bristol City both making bids for the former Luton Town forward.

Bristol City were reported to have had a £9m bid accepted earlier this week, but Gray turned down the chance to go to Ashton Gate and Burnley made their move.