SEAN Dyche could go without signing a central defender this summer despite the loss of Michael Keane to Everton.

The Clarets chief said there was no guarantees that he bring another defender to the club before the transfer window closes at the end of August as he prepares to partner Ben Mee and James Tarkowski at the back in the early weeks of the campaign.

While Burnley remain in the market for defensive cover Dyche is happy with his options at the moment and no deal is close to bring anyone to Turf Moor.

It had been expected that Keane's move to Goodison Park for an initial £25million would signal the arrival of a replacement central defender at Burnley, but Dyche is happy with Mee, Tarkowski and Kevin Long, while he has also used Charlie Taylor at the heart of the back four in pre-season.

And he insists any new arrival would have to improve what he already has within his ranks.

"Ideally we like to have two for each position so there’s competition," Dyche said. "We’ve got three recognised centre halves and Charlie Taylor, who I think could adapt into a very good centre half actually.

"We haven’t brought him in for that reason but played him there the other night just because I like the look of him. I like to be open-minded with my players and where else they could play.

"If one is right for us, and fits what we’re about, then we would be interested. But only if they can better what we’re doing at the moment."

Keane was one of the outstanding performers for the Clarets last season, but Dyche is willing to place his trust in Tarkowski early in the season, just as he did with Keane when he arrived at the club from Manchester United as an inexperienced central defender.

"A few years ago we put our trust in Michael Keane and that worked out all right," he said.

"You can’t guarantee it. You develop the players with a view to improve and over that period doing well now.

"We can all throw players in to develop them but it might cost you in the long run.

"You need to find that fine line between developing and being successful as well. The challenge comes if you throw too many in at one time and you’re not winning.

"Keano needed to go through that last time in the Premier League to get to where he’s got to. I was given the chance to encourage that development period but others would’ve been sacked. But he needed that to learn about the game."

Dyche added that Burnley were under no pressure to sell anyone else this summer, but said departures before the end of August couldn't be ruled out.

"You never know. We’re not under any pressure to sell anyone, that’s obvious," he said.

"You just never know with the shifting sands of the market. You think you can control it but you can’t really. Are contracts really worth what they’re meant to be worth? You can never say never."