BURNLEY were keen on bringing another centre-back to Turf Moor before Michael Keane rejected a new contract offer at the club.
With Michael Duff retiring at the end of last season, the Clarets were down to three senior centre-backs. But their resolve to keep Keane is likely to be tested with a fresh bid from Premier League champions Leicester City in the coming days.
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So if Sean Dyche is in need of reinforcements at the heart of defence, who could he look at signing?
TOM LEES
The Sheffield Wednesday centre-back has already emerged as a Clarets target for the Clarets after another impressive season for the Owls, who missed out on promotion to the Premier League in the play-off final.
The 25-year-old has admirers at Turf Moor but he signed a four-year deal at Hillsborough last summer, so won’t come cheap if that interest is firmed up with a bid.
Averaged 2.5 interceptions per game last season as well as 6.4 clearances a game. His performances have made him a fans’ favourite at Wednesday.
CONNOR GOLDSON
If the Clarets are looking at players who could make the step up from the Championship then they could do worse than Brighton and Hove Albion defender pair Lewis Dunk and Connor Goldson.
While centre-back partner Lewis Dunk won most of the headlines for his displays at the heart of the Seagulls back four, Goldson also impressed having had to wait for his chance at the Amex Stadium after signing from Shrewsbury.
Strong in the air and comfortable with the ball at his feet, Goldson has plenty of potential for further improvement.
ADEN FLINT
The Bristol City defender has attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs after an impressive season at Ashton Gate.
The 26-year-old’s height and physique have been a key factor in his performances. Standing at 6ft 5in, Flint isn’t likely to lose many aerial battle to many strikers.
Flint began his career with non-league Alfreton Town before making the move to the Robins via Swindon Town. Has scored 24 goals in 139 games from defence for City, an excellent ratio for a defender.
STEVEN TAYLOR
Having lost Duff’s vast experience, could Dyche be tempted to bring in a replacement who also has games under his belt?
The 30-year-old Taylor left Newcastle this summer after 268 appearances for the Magpies and revealed he felt the time was right to leave his boyhood club.
An experienced, streetwise defender with plenty of Premier League experience, who is also available on a free transfer.
GRANT HANLEY
This one wouldn’t go down well at Ewood Park, but Burnley made an enquiry as to Hanley’s availability a year ago when Frank McParland was sporting director at Turf Moor.
They were told a move wasn’t going to happen then and that stance is unlikely to have changed, even though Rovers are now without parachute payments this summer.
Hanley has been linked with a move away, with Derby, Sheffield Wednesday, Fulham and Rangers all said to be admirers of Rovers’ captain.
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