With the exceptional talent on display in the second tier, could Kompany be tempted to dip into the Championship to poach

some Premier League quality?

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is not surprising that Vincent has taken the Clarets back to the promised land at the first attempt given that Burnley is a

team on the rise and that the good changes are being credited to the Kompany the team retains.

 

Young, exciting potential and grizzled experience have been combined by Kompany to create a unique group of players who

have assisted the team in adjusting to the often difficult demands of the Championship while also preparing for their return

to the Premier League. Could Kompany be tempted to dip his toe back into the Championship waters to grab some Premier

League quality given the excellent talent on display in the second tier?

 

Contrary to rumors, Tony Mowbray’s preseason planning at the Academy of Light has already begun with Jack Clarke

sporting the brand-new Sunderland training uniform.

 

Burnley is one team that has reportedly made two consecutive bids for the tricky left-winger, however both have been

rejected.

The former Leeds and Tottenham trickster recorded a career-high 20 goal assists last season, and at just 22, his potential to

not only develop into a Premier League-level winger but also to become a key player in a top-flight team remains high. The

“unplayable” modern winger, who uses wide players and causes havoc against fullbacks, would undoubtedly fit nicely with

Kompany’s progressive, alluring, and offensive style of play.

 

Zian Flemming, a Dutchman, had an incredible debut season in South-East London. The attacking midfielder for Millwall

was one of the best in the Championship last year, and he has a solid background having grown up in the Ajax Academy.

 

The 24-year-old made an enormous impression as The Den’s record signing, contributing a crucial 15 goals and three assists

during the Lions’ quest for postseason football.

 

While Fleming’s ability to score goals and create plays may not have been best served by Vincent Kompany’s preference for a

4-3-3 last season, the Belgian manager may look to change his team’s style to one that is a little more measured and

conservative, which could well accommodate Fleming’s strengths. Turf Moor has previously made several offers to Millwall,

but let’s see if burnley can reach an agreement.

 

The Burnley team, which was only five points away from surpassing the all-time Championship point total, benefited greatly

from the contributions of Nathan Tella.

 

The Clarets scored 87 goals in the league, with Nathan Tella, who is on loan, scoring 17 of them and providing five assists.

After the Saints were demoted from the Premier League, the right winger found himself returning to his parent club in

Southampton and potentially facing another season in the Championship.

 

The right winger’s performance on loan at Burnley demonstrated how easily he would fit in. It would only be a matter of

getting used to Premier League conditions, which wouldn’t take long given that his abundant quality was frequently a level

above the Championship last time out. Like many loan players who experience success, Tella  has been linked to a

permanent move away from St Mary’s to reunite with his old boss, Kompany.

 

After allowing Sam Field to leave for QPR in 2021, West Brom is undoubtedly regretting it now that the Baggies are in

trouble on and off the field.

 

With 123 Championship appearances under his belt during his time at Queens Park Rangers, the England under-20

international has experienced tremendous progress. At 25 years old, he clearly appears to be ready to take a career risk, with

Burnley reportedly showing interest.

 

Field gave the R’s midfield a strong, controlled foundation during a very tumultuous West London season. The midfield may

benefit from being strengthened ahead of the new season as Burnley is in need of reinforcements throughout the field.

 

Han-Noah Massengo, who is only 21 years old, has already made more than 160 professional appearances. Massengo has

attracted interest from Burnley this summer due to his wealth of experience, and with his contract at Ashton Gate about to

expire soon, the defensive midfielder is obviously eager to find a new home and advance in his career.

The France under-20 talent is reportedly a target for Burnley, so Turf Moor may be his next stop. A midfield enforcer who

will likely impress Kompany with his strength in the tackle, intense pressing, and ability to advance with the ball.

 

THIS MAY INTERST  YOU:

Arsenal midfielder closing in on transfer to Burnley

 

 

 

 

Burnley is interested in Lokonga this summer, according to the Daily Mail, and the Arsenal are open to the idea of giving the

Belgian midfielder another loan.

 

Prior to sporting director Monchi moving to Aston Villa, Sevilla was another team interested in signing Lokonga for the

summer. It’s unclear how their interest may have been impacted by that departure.

 

There was a rumor that Arsenal was considering selling Lokonga permanently in May.

 

However, if Sevilla were to drop out of the running, a loan might become more likely because the Gunners would find it

difficult to benefit from Burnley’s one-horse race.

 

Arsenal signed Lokonga from Anderlecht for around £15m plus add-ons in 2021, and he made a relatively bright start to life

with the club.

 

But after largely dropping out of Mikel Arteta’s team in the second half of 2021/22, and failing to see much of a change in the

first half of the most recent campaign, the midfielder went out on loan to Crystal Palace.

 

Lokonga had a mixed time out on loan, initially playing a regular role in the Palace side before dropping back to the bench in

the final couple of months.

 

In all, the Belgian international made nine appearances for Palace. Though his chances at the club weren’t helped by the

departure of the manager who brought him in – Patrick Vieira.

 

Arsenal are pushing for midfield signings in the current window, with plenty of high-profile players linked with a move.

So despite reports of potential departures for the likes of Granit Xhaka, the pathway to minutes for Lokonga under Arteta

seems to be congested.