Burnley are back in the big time at the first possible opportunity, and the past year has seen something of a Claret revolution in Lancashire. Vincent Kompany was appointed as manager last year after taking his first steps into management at Anderlecht, and his swaggering, possession-heavy side took the Championship by storm, racking up 101 points to seal promotion in style.
The question now is whether Burnley can adapt that style for life back in the Premier League, and they can look to 21/22’s Championship-winning Fulham side for inspiration on how to make that jump look easy. It’s not – ask Norwich, who won the second tier at a canter in both the 20/21 and 18/19 seasons but failed to convert that dominance into survival.
What’s expected to be a busy summer at Turf Moor has already started in full swing, with numerous players going both in and out through the revolving doors. We will update you as the deals are made and what’s in process. The confirmed transfer ins and outs at Burnley so far are as follows.
The first completely new player to arrive at Turf Moor this summer was Dara O’Shea, signed from West Bromwich Albion for a little over the £7 million mark. The Irish centre-back penned a four-year contract with the Clarets, departing the Hawthorns after eight years with the Baggies.
Still just 24, O’Shea comes with Premier League pedigree, having impressed for West Brom in their last top-flight stint, but also with a healthy dose of experience and leadership. He racked up over 100 appearances for WBA after progressing through the club’s youth system, and captained the side on numerous occasions in the Championship last year.
A stalwart of Stephen Kenny’s Republic of Ireland team too, Kompany described his new addition as “strong at the back as well as confident moving forward” – high praise from one of the greatest centre-backs of the Premier League era.
Dominant in the air, as well as having a good eye for a pass and the ability to switch his range up to get the ball into dangerous areas, O’Shea should fit nicely into what Kompany is trying to do at Burnley, taking on the role that City loanee Taylor Harwood-Bellis played for the majority of last season.
O’Shea also joins a strong Irish contingent at Burnley, with Josh Cullen and Dara Costelloe both still at the club, and Michael Obafemi making his loan move permanent earlier on in the summer.
