Bart Verbruggen is reportedly close to signing for Premier League opponent Brighton and Hove Albion for £17 million, therefore Burnley may turn to 28 year goalkeeper.
History seems to be repeating itself when Anderlecht’s 20-year-old Player of the Year was passed up by Burnley over a year ago due to work permit issues, which prevented Burnley from hosting Vincent Kompany and his former RCSA starlet at Turf Moor.
A few weeks ago, the Clarets had their enhanced £12 million bid for Bart Verbruggen rejected.
Fabrizio Romano predicts Brighton will beat Burnley to the post. Roberto de Zerbi’s team is closing in on a ‘amazing’ goalkeeper whose superb distribution and high technical abilities make him ideal for this sophisticated Seagulls team.
“Brighton will pay a 20 million euro fee for goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen,” tweets Romano. Despite Burnley’s efforts, a deal “was already almost completed last week and (should be) sealed this week.”
Burnley miss out on Bart Verbruggen to Brighton
No one could accuse the Championship champions of resting on their laurels, however. The Sun say that Jean Butez has been lined up as an alternative. Butez’s Royal Antwerp side beat Verbruggen’s Anderlecht to Jupiler League glory last term, Toby Alderweireld’s very own ‘Aguero moment’ sealing the club’s first domestic title since 1957 in May
Butez kept a remarkable 27 clean sheets in all competitions last season.
“Butez is by far the best goalkeeper in the Belgian league,” says Hein Vanhaezebrouch, manager of Antwerp’s Jupiler League rivals KAA Gent.
“He is the most proactive ‘keeper on our fields. He does things that others don’t do and always anticipates in the right way.”
The man himself, meanwhile, admitted back in May that he would consider a fresh start. With his 29th birthday approaching, this may be Butez’s final chance to secure a move to a major league.
“I’m not going to deny it; my ambition is to take a step higher and there are opportunities to make a transfer,” he tells RTBF . “I am now 27 years old, and this might be the ideal time for a transfer.
“But even if I stay, the summer will be a success for me, because I may be able to discover the Champions League with Antwerp next season.”
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BURNLEY INTERESTED IN ANTWERP’S JEAN BUTEZ
According to L’Équipe, newly-promoted Burnley are interested in Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Jean Butez (28), who is also attracting interest from Villarreal.
The Lille OSC academy product has just concluded a successful season with Antwerp, where he won the league title. The Frenchman revealed back in March that the club would allow him to leave in the summer, should a reasonable offer come in. “The club has let me know that it would listen to transfer offers and that they wouldn’t block me [from leaving],” said the goalkeeper.
There is already notable interest in Butez from across Europe. As initially reported by Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, and confirmed by L’Équipe, Burnley are interested in signing the French shot-stopper. According to the French publication, the Premier League side have already made an approach. La Liga side Villarreal are also interested. The club finished fifth last season, meaning that they will compete in the UEFA Europa League next season.
Nice-Matinhave also previously reported interest from AS Monaco. The Principality club are in the hunt for at least one goalkeeper following Alexander Nübel’s return to parent club Bayern Munich. Chelsea’s Édouard Mendy is another target for Les Monégasques, but he is reportedly nearing a move to the Saudi Arabian championship
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