£3 million Royal Antwerp winger Manuel Benson admits Burnley have made an approach to sign him amid ongoing interest from the Championship outfit, speaking to Het Laaste Nieuws.
At the start of the window, Clarets fans would have snapped your hand off if you’d offered them the opportunity to retain just one of Dwight McNeil and Maxwel Cornet.
But, as things stand, it feels increasingly unlikely that either player will be wearing claret-and-blue come September.
McNeil is on the verge of joining Everton, 14 months after that goal at Goodison Park. Cornet is almost certain to go too, with a £17.5 million release clause in his contract.
Dwight McNeil out, Manuel Benson in at Burnley?
Benson, then, will have big boots to fill at Turf Moor. A versatile wideman blessed with explosive pace and an eye for goal, Burnley failed with a £1.5 million bid earlier this week.
Royal Antwerp want to recoup at least the £2.7 million club-record fee they paid KRC Genk in 2019. And, according to Voetbal Krant, the one-time Inter Milan, Lyon and Monaco target is open to the idea of joining Belgian legend Kompany in England’s second tier.
“They have polled,” Benson says when asked about those links, via VN. “Burnley’s interest has now come out, but there are still a few clubs who have informed (me of their interest).
“By the way, I also have conversations with Antwerp. My contract runs here for another year and there is an option in it (to extend).
“If nothing changes, I’ll just keep doing my best.”
Benson, who scored a fabulous free-kick during last week’s friendly with Dinamo Zagreb, found the net six times in 2021/22. He also produced eight assists from his preferred right-sided role.
A Burnley side who have already brought in Josh Cullen and Samuel Bastien from Belgian football are also closing in on Cercle Brugge defender Vitinho. Standard Liege striker Noah Ohio was another target, but the former Manchester City starlet has turned down the chance to continue his development in Lancashire.
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