BURNLEY WILLING TO PAY £17M TO BEAT WEST HAM TO TITLE-WINNING ACE

Burnley have no qualms about meeting Feyenoord’s £17 million asking price for Eredivisie winner Quilindschy Hartman as Vincent Kompany’s side look to beat Premier League rivals West Ham United to the left-back.

With frustration growing over a lack of transfer market activity at the London Stadium, the last thing West Ham supporters needed was to hear – from the uber-reliable Fabrizio Romano – that Ajax had hi-jacked David Moyes’ deal for Manchester City whizzkid Celso Borges.

After failing with bids for Connor Gallagher, Joao Palhinha, James Ward-Prowse and co, and with Borges now on his way to Amsterdam, the wait for West Ham’s first signing of the window goes on.

Quilindschy Hartman is unlikely to answer those prayers either.

Burnley lead West Ham in Quilindschy Hartman race

According to the Rotterdam-based publication 1908, Burnley are currently leading their claret-and-blue cousins in the race for Feyenoord’s 21-year-old left-back. The Eredivisie champions had hoped that, by demanding £17 million, they would send Hartman’s suitors running for the hills.

No such luck. It just so happens that Burnley, per 1908, were planning to offer a fee in a similar region for the tattooed wideman.

The Clarets want a new left-back after struggling to agree a deal for Ian Maatsen.

Maatsen shone on loan under Vincent Kompany as Burnley stormed to the Championship title in 2021/22 but appears to have a part to play at parent club Chelsea after impressing Mauricio Pochettino in pre-season.

“He has capacity to play in different areas and we can use in different positions. His performance did not change (depending on where he played). That is what makes us very pleased,” Pochettino says of Maatsen, via Lancs Live.

“We see him with enormous potential for the club.”

1908 add that, while Feyenoord remain confident of keeping academy graduate Hartman, the Dutch U21 international is yet to agree fresh terms at De Kuip.

West Ham, meanwhile, appear unlikely to step up their interest until there is some clarity on the future of Aaron Cresswell. The veteran full-back has been in talks with Wolves but a potential move to Molineux appears to have stalled of late.

Burnley ready to go over €20m to sign defender – ‘Impossible’ for club to negotiate anything under that

Burnley are ready to pay over €20m for Feyenoord defender Quilindschy Hartman, who are eyeing him as a replacement for Ian Maatsen.

That’s according to 1908.nl, who say Vincent Kompany and co are ready to push forward with a bid after Maatsen returned to Chelsea following his loan spell last season.

They explain that Burnley’s interest has come via Kompany, who was at De Kuip last Sunday for Feyenoord’s clash with Benfica and ‘saw how Hartmann excelled’.

He managed an assist in that game and seemingly caught Kompany’s eye and he has now recommended him to his club.

However, Feyenoord do not intend to let one of their key players go easily. They value him at more than €20m this summer, and they feel it’s ‘impossible’ for them enter talks for a figure lower than that amount.

That’s not a problem for Burnley, though, who already had that figure in mind and thus would be willing to pay it if required.

Chelsea loan Army: How Ian Maatsen has got on at Burnley

Convincing Feyenoord may be difficult, though, as they don’t want to sell either way and would in fact be planning to try and convince him to stay with a contract extension.

Burnley: Clarets set to sign Andros Townsend

The 32-year-old has impressed during a trial.

Burnley are likely to sign free agent Andros Townsend after he impressed during a trial with the club.
Townsend brings versatility as he can play on the right, left, or through the middle.
The 32-year-old has extensive Premier League experience and has faced Burnley more times than any other club in his career.
Burnley are on course to sign free agent Andros Townsend following a successful trial with the Clarets, according to reports.
What’s the latest Burnley transfer news?

Vincent Kompany and Turf Moor officials have been extremely busy in the transfer market ahead of their return to the Premier League for the 2023/24 season.

The club have so far spent around £55m on deals for Zeki Amdouni, James Trafford, Jordan Beyer, Dara O’Shea, Michael Obafemi and Luca Koleosho.

Nathan Redmond and Lawrence Vigouroux have also arrived on free transfers, whereas Jacob Bruun Larsen has joined the club on loan

Nine new faces could soon become 10, though, with Townsend on trial with Burnley ahead of a potential move. The 32-year-old impressed during the club’s 2-0 pre-season victory over Portuguese heavyweights Benfica, and it looks as if he is on course to be offered a deal.

According to Football Insider in the last 48 hours, Burnley are set to sign Townsend after he caught the eye during his trial.

It is believed that ‘the former Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Newcastle star has done enough during his training stint at Burnley to be offered a deal by Kompany’.

Who has Andros Townsend played for?

Townsend is primarily a right-winger but can also play on the left or even through the middle so should bring plenty of versatility to Kompany’s side.

The 32-year-old progressed through Tottenham’s academy and spent time out on loan with the likes of Yeovil Town, Leyton Orient, MK Dons, Ipswich, Watford, Millwall, Leeds United, Birmingham City and Queens Park Rangers.

He did make 93 senior appearances for Spurs before leaving on a permanent basis to join Newcastle United in 2016, and six months later, was on the move again by completing a move to Crystal Palace.

Townsend spent five years at Selhurst Park and turned out on 185 occasions, leaving in 2021 to sign for Everton. The Adidas-sponsored attacker made 27 appearances for the Toffees but missed the entirety of the 2022/23 campaign with a knee problem.

However, he now appears to be well on the road to recovery and his display for Burnley in pre-season was actually the first time he completed 90 minutes of action in 17 months. It looks as if a move to Burnley is on course to be finalised, and the player knows all about the Clarets as he has played against the club on 18 occasions, more than any other side in his career.

Townsend, who won 13 caps for England, has scored three times against Burnley, one for Everton, Crystal Palace and Millwall, and he’s also registered four assists against the club.

As mentioned, he will provide Kompany with a versatile attacking option and someone who has plenty of top-flight experience after turning out on 264 occasions in the Premier League, scoring 25 times and providing 35 assists.

Who knows, if a deal is completed fairly soon, he could be involved in the matchday squad for the Premier League opener against Manchester City next week, and an announcement may well be in the pipeline.