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Burnley are celebrating a successful season and now have Premier League football to look forward to again, but they do have issues behind the scenes.
After a truly remarkable and record-breaking season for Burnley, it was goal difference alone that prevented them winning the Championship title.
Both Burnley and Leeds United head to the Premier League now with strong seasons under their belts and hope that they can upset the status quo and survive in the top flight.
However, Burnley may have to sell key players this summer to balance the books, including James Trafford and Maxime Esteve.
That’s not ideal, but there are very cheap options out there to help Scott Parker rebuild his squad, like these five free agents available this summer.
Burnley need to act fast on these five free agents
Freddie Woodman
If Trafford does depart, that’s a massive loss for Burnley. The young goalkeeper kept a whopping 29 clean sheets this season, but that kind of form does attract attention from elsewhere, and the fee Burnley could receive for him would be very tempting.
They won’t have to look far to find his replacement, either. Just across Lancashire, Freddie Woodman is coming to the end of his contract at Preston North End, and he’s another ‘keeper that has been linked with top flight clubs already.
He’s got a good level of experience, is a decent shot-stopper, and is a man desperate to prove he’s ready for the Premier League.
Jimmy Dunne
Burnley have already lost CJ Egan-Riley on a free transfer this summer, which leaves a gaping hole in their impressive defence.
They can fill that gap very quickly and cheaply by signing one of the most underrated defenders in the Championship, Jimmy Dunne.
The Clarets know all about the QPR man, given he came through their youth system years ago. Sheffield United are keen on Dunne, but Burnley would surely hold an advantage, and they’d be getting a strong, versatile, accomplished defender for nothing.
- READ MORE: Championship transfer round-up: Jamie Vardy twist, Wrexham going big, Coventry City crumbling
Michael Keane
Maxime Esteve has been linked with Everton ahead of the summer, so it’s only fair Burnley take a player off the Toffees in return. And again, they could snap up a former player for free, with Michael Keane soon to be available.
He left Burnley in 2017 to join Everton for a fee that reportedly rose to around £30m. The fact Burnley could get him back for nothing now seems a no-brainer, even if he is now 32-years-old.
Keane has exceptional top-flight experience, is a towering presence at the back, and he knows the club inside out.
Abdoulaye Doucoure
Actually, maybe Burnley should take two players off Everton this summer. This is an ambitious one, though, and while Abdoulaye Doucoure would be free, technically, his wages would be a significant outlay for the Clarets.
Still, with Josh Brownhill likely to leave on a free agent this summer, Burnley desperately need someone to help them win the midfield battle, and Doucoure offers bite in the middle while also chipping in with the odd goal.
He would suit Parker’s style of play to a tee, has bags of experience, and could really bring something slightly different to the Burnley midfield.
Callum Wilson
There is no more valuable commodity in the Premier League than goals, especially for the recently-promoted teams.
Sadly, that’s the one thing Burnley lack if you were to find a criticism for them. Zian Flemming is a decent striker but we still don’t know whether Burnley will keep him permanently after his loan spell, and even then, is he good enough to cut it at Premier League level?
Enter, Callum Wilson. The 49-goal Newcastle United man has proven season after season that he can score on the biggest stage, and he’s available for free. Still, there will be a number of clubs chasing the 33-year-old, so Burnley will have to stump up an attractive package.