Nigel Pearson names the driving force behind Jeff Hendrick’s move to Burnley

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Hendrick left Derby County for Burnley in a record deal for both clubs.

Derby’s manager Nigel Pearson

Derby County manager Nigel Pearson has identified the ‘driving force’ behind Jeff Hendrick’s transfer to Burnley – via the Derby Telegraph.

Hendrick left the iPro Stadium on deadline day in a deal allegedly worth in excess of £10 million – a record for both clubs.

And speaking for the first time about the 24-year-old’s exit, Pearson confirmed the move was insinuated by the midfielder himself.

“Jeff is a player I was not overly keen on losing but of course the player made it clear he wanted to leave and we as a club made it clear the type of figure that would trigger an opportunity for then the process to continue,” he said, as quoted by the Derby Telegraph.

Jeff Hendrick (left)

“It is never easy to allow players who have got great potential to go but the driving force in this was Jeff and of course the fee we in the end agreed gives us a very good return.

“We were sad to see Jeff go but as a manager you have to accept that players will leave.

“Once we received the type of bid that we did from Burnley it meant we could do some other business as well.

“When you combine all the things together, you have to make sensible decisions.”

Derby, who are rumoured to have spent touching £30 million on transfers last season, used the proceeds of Hendrick’s sale – in addition to the funds raised by the loan exits of Lee Grant and Chris Martin – to bring in three new faces during the final few days of the transfer window.

Chris Martin (right)

Watford striker Matej Vydra arrived as another club-record purchase – understood by BBC Radio Derby to be around the £8 million mark – and was subsequently joined by Vicarage Road teammate Ikechi Anya for £3.5 million (Derby Telegraph).

Then, with the window drawing to a close, the Rams competed their fourth summer signing in the shape of goalkeeper Chris Weale, who previously played under Pearson at Leicester City.

Matej Vydra