BURNLEY have had bids for midfielders Dale Stephens and Jeff Hendrick rejected by Brighton and Hove Albion and Derby County respectively.

Albion have turned down £4million for Stephens, according to the sources on the south coast, while Derby rejected around £3.5millon for Hendrick.

The Clarets are in the market for midfield reinforcements this summer following the departure of Joey Barton to Rangers.

It is believed the bid for Stephens was the second offer Burnley have made for the player, but it remains to be seen if the Clarets will be back in for either star.

Albion’s Stephens has just one year remaining on his contract at the Amex Stadium.

The 27-year-old, who was born in Bolton, started 45 of Brighton’s league fixtures last season, scoring seven times, including in the 2-2 draw between the Seagulls and Burnley on the south coast on April 2.

He was sent off in the promotion decider at Middlesbrough on the final day of the season and missed both legs of the play-off semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday as Chris Hughton’s side agonisingly missed out on promotion.

But his partnership in the middle with Beram Keyal, who also just a year remaining on his contract and has been linked with a move away, was a key component in Brighton’s success last term.

The move for Stephens came after the Clarets had seen an offer for Hendrick rebuffed by Derby.

The 24-year-old impressed for the Republic of Ireland during Euro 2016 as Martin O’Neill’s side came close to dumping hosts France out at the last 16 stage.

The Dubliner joined Derby as a teenager from Irish side St Kevin’s Boys and has come through the ranks in the East Midlands.

A combative, all-action midfielder, he has already played more than 200 games for the Rams.

He came off the bench in Burnley’s goalless draw at the iPro Stadium last September, but was an unused substitute as the Clarets won 4-1 at Turf Moor in January.

Like Stephens, Hendrick also suffered play-off heartbreak at the end of the season.

He remained on the bench as Derby were beaten 3-0 by Hull in the semi-final first leg, but played the full game four days later as the Rams won 2-0 and came within a whisker of a remarkable comeback.

Barton’s decision to turn down a contract extension at Burnley and seek a new challenge north of the border has left Sean Dyche short of options in midfield.

The former Manchester City man was a regular once he had worked his way up to fitness last season and was voted supporters’ player of the year at the club’s official end of season awards.

Burnley are training at the Stade Camille Fournier in Evian-les-Bains today on the first full day of their training camp.

They take on Swiss third tier FC Stade Nyonnais in their first pre-season friendly on Friday night.