BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche believes Jeff Hendrick has warranted his extended Turf Moor deal after the Clarets exercised the one-year option on the midfielder's contract.

And Dyche now wants to further strengthen his squad with new faces when the transfer window opens next month.

The Clarets appointed Mike Rigg has technical director earlier this month and Dyche, whose side travel to Arsenal in the Premier League tomorrow (12.30pm) said the club were actively looking to add in January.

"We are but it is tough," Dyche said. "We are looking to build a system and a model that is not just for this window but works in a longer period for the club.

"There is no immediate pressure on him (Rigg) but it is helpful if he can add something to what we already do and if there is something out there that we think we can move on then we will do.

"It’s not throwing money at every situation. It is finding the right situations for now, and there needs to be a competitive element for now quite obviously because we’ve got to get wins, but also the next layer of player and the next development of player.

"There’s a lot of boxes need ticking to make sure they are the right players for this club and that makes it difficult but that’s the challenge we've been doing for the last six or so years."

One player who has been linked with a move away from the Clarets is goalkeeper Tom Heaton.

The England international has not featured regularly for Burnley since injuring his shoulder in September 2017.

On his return to full fitness his path was blocked by Nick Pope and when Pope himself suffered a shoulder injury against Aberdeen in July, Dyche, with Heaton suffering with a calf problem, signed Joe Hart who has gone on to play every minute in the Premier League this season.

Heaton has subsequently found himself on the bench and has made no secret of his desire to play first team football.

And Dyche, while not looking to offload his club captain, admits a January exit is a possibility.

"He wants to play first-team football," the Clarets boss said of the 31-year-old.

"If something opens up outside, we’ll look at it and consider it but we are not under any pressure to do anything with the business model of the club but equally we will respect the players, particularly Tom.

"Tom’s been an outstanding professional and arguably one of the best signings I’ve made."

Meanwhile, on Hendrick's new deal, which keeps the 26-year-old at the club until 2020, Dyche said: “He has done well for us.

“We have asked a lot of him. We have used him in a number of different positions that are not sometimes natural to us and over time he has delivered good performances for us.”

Hendrick has made 91 appearances for the Clarets since signing from Derby at the end of the 2016 summer transfer window.

He started 29 Premier League games last season to help Dyche’s side finish seventh to qualify for Europe.