Burnley one big step closer to announcing £3.5m Ameen Al-Dakhil transfer

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Sint Triuden’s Belgium U20 international Ameen Al-Dakhil has already undergone a medical at Burnley as the Jupiler League centre-back closing in on a move to the Championship leaders, according to Het Belang van Limburg. 

Burnley have already enjoyed real success when dipping into the Belgian market.

Former Anderlecht coach Vincent Kompany brought Manuel Benson, Anass Zaroury, Josh Cullen and Vitinho with him to Turf Moor last summer, and all four players have made a serious impact for a Clarets side cruising 14 points clear of third-place Blackburn Rovers and closing in on an immediate return to the Premier League stage. 

Now, with Manchester City loanee Taylor Harwood-Bellis facing an extended spell on the sidelines, Burnley will dip their toe into familiar waters; Al-Dakhil set to become the latest in a long line of Jupiler League imports at Kompany’s Clarets. 

Vincent Kompany’s Burnley close to signing Ameen Al-Dakhil

“I know Kompany wants Al-Dakhil,” Sint Triuden coach Bernd Hollerbach said in August. “But he stays.”

Hollerbach would have known, however, that Al-Dakhil would not be sticking around for much longer. Sint Triuden reportedly promised the Iraq-born defender that he would be allowed if Burnley renewed their interest. And the Lancashire outfit have now done just that.  

According to HBVL, Burnley will pay around £3.5 million for the highly-rated 20-year-old. Al-Dakhil has already travelled to England, and underwent medical tests on Thursday. The move could become official before Saturday’s home clash with Coventry City at Turf Moor. 

Interestingly, Burnley went all in for Al-Dakhil after talks with Hjalmar Ekdal – another talented, right-footed centre-half – collapsed due to work permit concerns.  

“It is true that we have not found an agreement (for Ekdal). I have good knowledge of the reason why (negotiations) stopped,” explains Djurgardens director Bosse Andersson. 

“We have had contact and discussions with Burnley. And it was, as I said, hotter last week than it is right now.

“It is clear that there are other interested parties. I expect that there are more clubs that could be more concrete in the last weeks (of the window).”