SEAN Dyche has no intention of selling Michael Keane to Leicester City and revealed the in-demand centre half had been ‘as good as gold’ while speculation over his future persists.

The Premier League champions failed with a £15million bid for Keane earlier in the transfer window, and although they remain interested in the 23-year-old they are yet to return with an improved offer.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Keane, who has two years remaining on his current Turf Moor deal, rejected a new four-year contract after the Foxes made their move for the former Manchester United youngster.

But he has trained with the Clarets during pre-season and was on the scoresheet in the 3-1 win over Stade Nyonnais in Switzerland on Friday night.

Dyche insists Keane remains part of his squad, with the Turf boss accepting that success means other clubs will inevitably take an interest in his players.

“We’ve made it clear all along he’s part of the group and that continues,” the Clarets chief said when asked about Keane’s future.

“I’ve said many times it’s the balance of doing very well, if you do that other teams come looking at your players.

“We’ve been very successful over the last three or so years, there’s reasons for that and people look at your players, that’s just the way it is.

“We’re in a very strong shape and we want that to continue, but we want to grow that team, and that usually takes investment, and that’s the challenge we’ve got.”

Keane played 27 times for Leicester in a loan spell in the 2012/13 season and is highly-rated by their renowned head of recruitment Steve Walsh.

But Walsh is reportedly close to agreeing a move to become sporting director at Everton, a club that has also taken an interest in Keane previously.

Despite the speculation surrounding his future Dyche is happy with Keane’s approach during pre-season.

“He’s as good as gold. He’s not the first to have people talk about him, they’ve been a number of players here who’ve had that,” he said.

“They’re a good group and they’re really settled about things, and he’s just one of the group.”

Dyche will make the first additions to his squad this summer today, with the signings of Charlton due Nick Pope and Johann Berg Gudmundsson set to be confirmed.

Goalkeeper Pope, 24, and winger Gudmundsson, 25, both underwent medicals yesterday.

The Clarets agreed a fee of £1.1million with the Addicks for Pope, and £2.5million, with a potential further £1million in add-ons, for Iceland’s Euro 2016 star Gudmundsson.

Burnley’s 2016/17 away kit will be unveiled publicly for the first time in tonight’s friendly at Morecambe, with the Clarets wearing the strip at the Globe Arena.

It will go on sale at a launch day on Monday, August 1, when the Clarets Store at Turf Moor will be opened.