Vincent Kompany’s Burnley could celebrate promotion back to the Premier League by bringing in Paulo Otavio on a free transfer from Bundesliga outfit VFL Wolfsburg as well as Croatia ace Luka Ivanusec.
Burnley are unlikely to make quite so many signings as Nottingham Forest did. But, like Steve Cooper’s 2022 play-off winners, the Clarets’ promotion campaign relied heavily upon the form of a handful of loanees. Loanees who may need to be replaced.
The Southampton-owned Nathan Tella is Burnley’s top scorer. Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jordan Beyer – signed on short-term deals from Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach – stood out at centre-half.
Ian Maatsen, meanwhile, scored four goals and set up six more from left-back. The Dutchman could still return to Turf Moor – Chelsea under pressure to trim down their squad – but Burnley’s interest in 28-year-old Paulo Otavio suggests that potential replacements are already being lined up.
Burnley like Bundesliga ace Paulo Otavio
Otavio joined Wolfsburg from Ingolstadt back in 2019. His contract expires in July.
Brazilian publication UOL believe that Al Saad, CSKA Moscow, Besiktas and Real Mallorca have all expressed an interest. But Burnley, after sealing promotion back to the Premier League at the home of arch rivals Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night, may be the most alluring destination for an attack-minded full-back who shares Maatsen’s eye for an assist.
Otavio, a soon-to-be free-agent, would barely scratch the surface of Kompany’s summer budget. You cannot say the same of Luka Ivanusec; the 12-time Croatia international who, according to Sportske Novosti, is also right at the top of the Burnley boss’s wishlist.
Burnley are reportedly in talks with Dinamo Zagreb’s number seven already. The Lancashire outfit will allegedly make a bid in the region of £10 million.
Ivanusec, who can play on the left wing or in attacking midfield, has nine goals and four assists this season, and would potentially help offset the potential departure of Tella should he return to Southampton.
Ivanusec, Sportske Novosti add, was also a target for Brentford back in 2021.
Will Ivanusec follow Orsic to England?
Interestingly, the Croatian publication claim to have heard about Burnley’s interest from the same sources who reported on Mislav Orsic’s January switch to Southampton.
Orsic, the former Dinamo Zagreb talisman, is struggling at St Mary’s. According to his agent, the World Cup bronze medalist could leave England after just six months this summer too.
“Mislav does not deserve what is happening to him,” the agent says. “The situation is definitely not ideal. However, he did not falter. He works as hard as he can.
“All options will be open. We will see what happens. Staying, if he plays, and a new club are (both) on the table.”
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