Andy Hinchcliffe doesn’t think that the worrying news about Burnley’s transfer embargo will affect the future of Tottenham Hotspur’s managerial target, Vincent Kompany at Turf Moor.
On Sunday, the Championship’s table-toppers were hit by a transfer embargo by the EFL after submitting their accounts late, as reported by BBC Sport.
This raised huge eyebrows amongst those in the EFL because Burnley are, not only going to get promoted to the Premier League, but they might do it with a record points total.
After 36 games in the Championship, Burnley are on 80 points, with 23 wins and only two defeats to their name – they are 16 points clear of third-placed, Middlesbrough, who have played a game extra.
It’s been a rip-roaring success for Kompany in his first managerial job in English football and it has seen Tottenham Hotspur show interest in the former centre-back, if Antonio Conte heads for the exit door in the summer.
But EFL expert and former left-back, Andy Hinchcliffe, can’t see Kompany going anywhere, although, he did point out that, in the summer, there will be clubs trying to ‘steal him away’ from the Clarets, as he told Sky Sports News (14/03/23).
“It sounds like, from what Burnley are saying, it will be a situation that will be resolved pretty quickly,” said Hinchcliffe. “One thing I feel will not change is Vincent Kompany’s focus on getting the team promoted. Winning the title and trying to break the points record as well, if possible. The team won’t be affected.
On if Kompany will leave: “I am sure he has been in contact with the hierarchy and know exactly what the situation is. This is the business part of the club and clearly connected to the football side of it. Vincent will be involved in both regards. But he is the coach. He has been coaching the players and he has been incredibly successful at it. He will want to know what’s going on. He will want to know the truth behind all of this and how quickly it will be sorted.
“I don’t think the situation will make him think any differently about his time now at Burnley and what will happen in the future. He has been laser-focused all season on getting that team to play well and win games to get promoted. I just don’t see that changing, regardless of what’s happening off the pitch.
“With the running of the club, a coach needs to know that is being done correctly because it will affect, if he stays, after they get promoted, there will be a lot of clubs looking at Vincent Kompany to maybe try to steal him away. If he stays with Burnley in the Premier League, then he will want to know that he can add to that squad.”
KOMPANY EARNING HIS STRIPES
On paper, it might seem easy to take charge of a relegated Premier League side in the Championship because they have top-flight quality players in their squad.
But it was far from the case for Kompany at Burnley because a number of senior players departed, including Nick Pope and he then refreshed the squad with young stars.
Added to that, the style of play at Burnley has well and truly turned on its head, so it’s no surprise that those higher up are looking at the Manchester City legend.
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