Vincent Kompany ‘played a big part’ in Darko Churlinov’s decision to leave Bundesliga outfit VFB Stuttgart for Championship promotion hopefuls Burnley, the North Macedonia international’s agent tells NRZ.
It looked, for a time at least, that Anderlecht had got one over their former boss.
The Jupiler League giants, just one week ago, appeared to be on the verge of confirming Churlinov’s arrival, snatching the former Schalke loanee from under the nose of the man who walked away from Lotto Park in order to stand where Sean Dyche stood for so long on the Turf Moor sideline.
But, after Burnley snared not only Kompany but also Josh Cullen – arguably the most influential member of the Anderlecht squad – Churlinov’s decision to join the ranks of a new-look Clarets squadron feels like a classic case of adding insult to injury, as far as RCSA are concerned anyway.
Burnley beat Anderlecht to Stuttgart’s Darko Churlinov
According to Lancs Live, Churlinov will become Burnley’s 12th signing of a busy summer. And Kompany’s role in the deal, according to agent Mehmet Eser, should not be understated.
“The coach Vincent Kompany, who really convinced us 100 per cent, played a big part,” Eser explains.
Stuttgart director Sven Mislintat, meanwhile, confirms that ‘very confidential talks have taken place’ between all parties, with the deal now ‘well advanced’. Burnley will reportedly pay around £4 million.
22-year-old Churlinov should, in theory, add thrust and versatility to Burnley’s revamped frontline. He played on the right, on the left and through the middle during Schalke’s Bundesliga.2 title-winning campaign in 2021/22.
On the flip side, however, Churlinov is unlikely to be the 20-goal a-season forward Burnley are crying out for. He’s scored just 11 times in nearly 60 club appearances.
Kompany recently confirmed Burnley’s interest in Cardiff City’s Issak Davies and Sporting Lisbon’s Jovane Cabral. Albeit while admitting that both deals were unlikely to go through. The Clarets, who’s lack of cutting edge was exposed in Friday’ 1-0 defeat to Watford, have also been priced out of a deal for Rangers speedster Fashion Sakala.
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