Sean Dyche admits players may leave in January with Burnley at mercy of richer clubs
Tuesday 12 December 2017 09:43, UK
Sean Dyche says he cannot give assurances that Burnley players will not leave in January, as the club brace themselves for interest in their stars.
The Clarets have had a superb season so far, sitting seventh in the Premier League and just two points outside the Champions League places, despite losing key players Michael Keane and Andre Gray in the summer.
They have also lost the likes of Danny Ings to Liverpool and Kieran Trippier to Tottenham since they were promoted to the Premier League in 2014, but Dyche believes the club is in a strong position ahead the upcoming transfer window.
"We've had interest in our players ever year, from Charlie Austin all the way through, so were used to it," he said. "We're happy with the contract situation with our players and that's all you can do nowadays.
"It's a market and, when you think of some of the numbers this summer, there is no ceiling. So it's not realistic for me to sit here and say none of our players are going anywhere.
"Some teams can do that but we can't. But, as I said, the players are under contract, so we know where we are as a business. The fact they're getting looked at - if they are - is a sign of our success.
"That's part of what's been going on for the five seasons I've been here. We're not under pressure to make sales but the market is what it is."
Burnley secured their eighth victory of the season and fifth by a 1-0 margin when they beat Dyche's former club Watford on Saturday and striker Chris Wood, signed from Leeds in the summer, is their top-scorer on five goals.
But, ahead of Tuesday's battle with Stoke at Turf Moor, Dyche insists he wants goals from all areas of the team.
"There's an obvious case for strikers being strikers and we want them to score, of course, but behind that it's a team event," he said.
"It's not just about relying on anyone. It's relying on everyone, in fact. Goals can come from different areas of the pitch for different reasons and Saturday was a good show of it - and another good goal."
