Burnley should challenge Newcastle United for the Crystal Palace winger.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche deserves great credit for the job that he has done during his time in charge at Turf Moor, but he will have to strengthen his side further still this summer, if they are to match, or even improve upon, last season’s excellent seventh placed finish.
One particular area where Dyche undoubtedly has bolster is his wide attacking options, with more competition required for the likes of Robbie Brady and Aaron Lennon.
With this in mind, the Clarets should consider joining Newcastle in the race to sign Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend, who could be available for around £18 million this summer, according to a report from the Sun.
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And if Dyche does in fact manage to bring the 13-capped England international to Turf Moor, it would be a real statement of intent from Burnley ahead of the new Premier League season.
Townsend, 26, is incredibly skilful, and plays with a certain type of directness that would really help the Clarets improve upon the potency of their play in the final third.
He is also not afraid to shoot from distance – something that Burnley have lacked from their wide players in recent years.
The Palace man is heavily experienced in playing at the very highest level, and the nouse and know-how that he has garnered over the years could prove to be a great asset for the Lancashire outfit.
Whilst £18 million seems like a lot of money for Burnley to spend on one player, the £120 million that they earned from last season’s seventh placed finish in the Premier League table should enable them to be more adventurous with their finances, and bringing Townsend to Turf Moor could signal the start of an exciting new era for the club.
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