SEAN Dyche believes that Burnley are on a more sound financial footing under new ownership and will not have to sell their star players this summer.

The likes of Dwight McNeil and James Tarkowski - heavily pursued by West Ham and Leicester City last summer - will once again be linked with moves away from Turf Moor.

And while the Burnley boss admits every player has a price, the club will not be ‘lowballed’ in to having to part with their key assets.

Tarkowski’s future at the start of this season was up in the air, with bids of £30million from both Leicester and West Ham declined. The England international missed the start of the campaign through injury but went on to play a key role in the Clarets securing a sixth successive season in the Premier League.

The club were taken over by Delaware-based investment firm ALK Capital at the start of this year - with Alan Pace appointed chairman - and Dyche believes they can now turn down bids that they do not feel match their own valuation.

“I think there will be a bit more strength financially (under the new ownership) in what we’re trying to achieve and with contracts and that sort of thing,” Dyche said.

“But there’s still a model at this club where if someone hits that number and it’s deemed appropriate then it’s likely that some players go from this club.

“There was a time when we had to take that money, well we haven’t had to take that money. There is no need to take that money so we could keep players here and keep them competitive with our group.

“That’s probably the strength that’s been achieved here over the years financially where we can’t always keep them forever but we can fend off bids if we’re being lowballed or they’re not good enough.”