Burnley boss Sean Dyche insists that the club are focusing on players they can bring in and not potentially losing senior players during the January transfer window.

The Clarets boss has said deals in both directions are “unlikely” before the end of the month but in recent days has seen Jay Rodriguez and Joe Hart linked to Aston Villa.

Ben Gibson is another senior player being followed by speculation in the early days of the window but Dyche insists all at Turf Moor are focusing their efforts in the other direction.

“We haven't had anything that means anything for our players so there is no reason to think about it  too much”, he said. 

“We have an awareness of course and what ifs. Usually you get a sniff or a phone call and sometimes people just phone you outright.  

“There has been one situation and it wasn't really that real and it was nothing to us. That is it.

“The rest of it has been us looking outside the building to see what we can do."

With that in mind, Dyche reiterated however that he will only be looking to bring in players who will add something to what he already has and is wary of signing players for the sake of it.

“At this time of year, you can sign players but they have to be players that can help you move forward, whether it is with instant effect or whether it is to grow into the team and improve the team going forwards,” he said.

“You try and find that balance where both boxes are ticked and it is not that easy. We will keep foraging away and see what we can come up with.” 

In terms of interest in his players, Dyche maintains that the club’s healthy financial position means anyone leaving Turf Moor will do so on the Clarets’ terms.  

“We are not in a position to need to sell. The club is in very, very good financial health,” he said.  

“There is no demand on that. There is always a price eventually at Burnley Football Club because of the nature of the club but that price is considerably different than it was four or five years ago because we are in a very good place financially. 

“If a decision is made on that it will be made for the right reasons and certainly not purely financial reasons.

“It is more the getting people in, getting competitive players into the building and of the level that can move us forward.”