Two players admit Burnley tried to sign them, made 3 bids for one target

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Rotherham United midfielder Ben Wiles and Anderlecht playmaker Majeed Ashimeru have both admitted that Vincent Kompany’s Championship leaders Burnley tried to lure them to Turf Moor over the summer, speaking to Yorkshire Post and Voetbal Nieuws. 

With a three point lead over Sheffield United heading into the World Cup break, Burnley’s current position is credit not only to the excellent coaching of Kompany (turning the previously unfashionable Clarets into one of the EFL’s most watchable sides) and some outstanding recruitment behind the scenes. 

Josh Cullen, Manuel Benson and Nathan Tella have been superb since arriving. Anass Zaroury even earned a call up for Morocco’s World Cup squad after scoring six times in 14 games. 

This is not to say Kompany got every player he wanted over the summer, however. Burnley are arguably still one central midfielder short; Rotherham refusing to sell Wiles and Anderlecht taking a similar stance over stylish Ghana international Ashimeru. 

Burnley wanted Ben Wiles of Rotherham United and Anderlecht’s Majeed Ashimeru

“That’s gone now. I’ve put that behind me,” Wiles said when reflecting on the distraction caused by Burnley’s interest. “It was hard to swallow. I struggled at the beginning with it. 

“Burnley are a club with a Premier League pedigree. At first, it (missing out on amove) was really hard to accept. It was difficult

“That’s gone. It’s out of my head now. While I’m at Rotherham United, I’m going to give 110 per cent in every single game. This club have got a special place in my heart.”

Burnley reportedly say three bids for Wiles rejected, the biggest coming in at £2 million (The Star). Their pursuit of Ashimeru wasn’t quite so aggressive, although the player himself admits that he did hold talks with former Anderlecht boss Kompany. 

“I came to Anderlecht because of Kompany,” explains Ashimeru, who joined the Belgian giants for £1.3 million. “When he left for Burnley, he wanted to take me with him.

“However, the transfer did not go through and that is now behind me. I had a very good relationship with Kompany. Who knows what the future will bring?”