Burnley reportedly rival Aston Villa for Brentford’s Neal Maupay as they plot £15m deal

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Burnley have reportedly joined Aston Villa in the race to sign Neal Maupay.

According to the Daily Mail, Burnley want to sign Brentford striker Neal Maupay despite the Frenchman being heavily linked with a move to Aston Villa to reunite with former manager Dean Smith.

The report claims Burnley boss Sean Dyche will open the bidding at £15 million, though it is said the Championship club may hold out for as much as £20 million for their star striker.

Maupay joined Brentford under current Villa boss Dean Smith. The 22-year-old has quickly established himself as one if the Championship’s best goal scorers, netting am impressive 28 times last season.

Both Villa and Sheffield United are cited in the report as strong suitors, yet Burnley are said to be stepping up the chase with Sean Dyche looking to add more goals to his side next season.

The Clarets have a recent history of poaching the best players from the Championship. Last summer, they signed Matej Vydra from Derby County after the Czech striker finished as the top scorer in the second tier.

Vydra, 27, didn’t enjoy the best of campaigns at Turf Moor last term. He made just three Premier League starts, netting once as he struggled to break in ahead of the likes of Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes.

Dyche may feel he will have better luck with Maupay, but Brentford will be reluctant to sell their top player and have already shown their stance this summer by reportedly rejecting a Villa bid for Said Benrahma, according to the Daily Mail.