The majority of business has come late on in the window at Turf Moor, will fans be satisfied that the club have signed enough players?
Burnley went into this transfer window knowing that they needed fresh faces to give themselves the best chance of Premier League survival this term.
They have been busy trying to complete their business, although the majority of their major signings have actually come later on in the window.
So have they got the right men for the job? Only this season’s outcome will tell us, but considering the fact that the club broke their record transfer fee twice in this window, if the club are relegated from the Premier League it won’t be for the want of trying.
Central midfield a priority after loss of Barton
After the big blow of learning that Joey Barton would not be extending his contract with the club into this year, picking up a replacement central midfielder shot up to the top of Burnley’s to-do list. Well, they took their time in their pursuit of a fresh face in that position, but in the end the Clarets ended up with not one but two new central midfielders.
28-year-old Belgian star Steven Defour joined for a club-record fee of £8 million, but this deal was trumped on deadline day as Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2016 star Jeff Hendrick signed from Derby for £10.5 million. Those two are likely to be key players for the Clarets this term, with Defour having already impressed in claret and blue, notably setting up Andre Gray’s goal superbly against Liverpool at Turf Moor.
Burnley did sell veteran midfielder David Jones to Sheffield Wednesday, but given the calibre of central midfielders they have brought in, the position has gone from being a problem area to a real position of strength going into the rest of the season.
One in, one out as Clarets retain their firepower up top
There can be no doubt that without star striker Andre Gray’s goals last season, Burnley would not have won the Championship so easily. It was vital that he remained at Turf Moor this summer, but the Lancashire club have also strengthened in attack to add to the trusted combination of Gray and Sam Vokes.
Forward Patrick Bamford has joined the club on a season-long loan from Chelsea, and the youngster has a point to prove after two previously unsuccessful Premier League loan spells with Crystal Palace and Norwich. Sean Dyche will be hoping that he can flourish this season, given first-team game time.
One senior striker departed this summer, in the form of Lukas Jutkiewicz, who joined Birmingham for a loan spell. But with Gray, Vokes and Bamford all gunning for a place in the team, the Clarets have the talent to pose a serious goal threat.
Disappointment as one promising deal collapses
One slight disappointment from this window from Burnley’s point of view is the failure to get a deal over the line to sign Polish winger Kamil Grosicki from French side Rennes. The transfer appeared to be agreed, with a £6.5 million deal struck up between the two clubs. However, complications in the move meant that the transfer was cancelled, and Grosicki will continue to play for the Ligue 1 side.
This could be a big blow for Burnley, who could certainly use a player with the pace and trickery of Grosicki – who also had a standout Euro 2016 – on the wing. The club will now be hoping that new arrival Johann Berg Gudmundson can step up and provide the service that their frontmen require.
Other highlights of the window include being able to fight off their admiring glances of Leicester City in order to keep young centre-back Michael Keane at the club, and a signing for the future in Nick Pope from Charlton.
Verdict
It has been a steady window of consistently shrewd-looking deals from the newly-promoted side. The new faces join a very settled squad, who will be high on confidence after a good start to their Premier League return.
If Burnley were to give themselves a chance of remaining in the top flight come the end of this season, they had to get this transfer window right. It has not been perfect, but with some quality players joining a group with a fantastic team spirit already, Burnley have given themselves the best chance possible.
Grade: B+
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
