BURNLEY are closing in on the signing of Luton Town defender Mitchell Thomas.

The Clarets made an approach for the former Spurs man earlier this summer.

And it looks increasingly likely that Thomas will be added to manager Stan Ternent's squad by the start of the new season.

Thirty-four-year-old Thomas has chalked up almost 500 League appearances with Spurs, West Ham and Luton, where he has enjoyed two spells.

Hatters boss Lennie Lawrence has offered Thomas a new deal to stay on at Kenilworth Road, but is resigned to losing the player under the Bosman ruling.

Lawrence said: "Mitchell has had a very good offer from Burnley and he's ready to go.

"I have spoken to their manager and he's keen to sign Mitchell. There's nothing I can do about it.

"I wanted Mitchell to stay but there's no way I can match Burnley's offer."

The Luton-born former England B and under-21 player has spent all his career in and around London but despite interest from Millwall, a move north to join ambitious Burnley on good terms looks as though it may now appeal.

On face value, the transfer would not be the most obvious one of the summer. But Thomas, who may also be looking to put a step on the first rung of the coaching ladder, has been a proven performer for some 15 seasons and is steeped in experience.

At this stage of his career it's unlikely that he would be seen as a 46-game-a-season man but Ternent would see him as able to provide valuable defensive cover as Burnley bid to mount a promotion challenge.

Primarily a left-back, Thomas would give back-up to Tom Cowan, who looks set to sign a permanent deal at Turf Moor.

And the six feet, two-inch tall defender would also offer Ternent an alternative on the left-hand side of the centre of his defence, Brian Reid having vacated one of those positions in the Clarets squad.

Ternent, also thought to be searching for a new striker and possibly a central midfield man as well, is reinforcing Burnley's rearguard as he bids to extend the mean streak the Clarets displayed in ending last season unbeaten in 11 games.

He is on the look-out for a new goalkeeper to rival Paul Crichton, having had a bid for Everton's Paul Gerrard rejected, and is also expected to bring in Bury right-back Dean West at the start of next month.

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