Burnley ‘behind the curve’ in recruitment

Burnley F.C. manager Sean Dyche has revealed the club are venturing over to Europe with regards to recruitment ahead of the January transfer window.

Previously, Dyche had insisted the club would only do transfer business in the domestic market, but with the Clarets in 19th-place in the English Premier League table, the former Watford boss has admitted the club will look elsewhere for potential reinforcements.

In an attempt to bolster their scouting network domestically and internationally, Burnley recently hired former Everton and Manchester United boss Robbie Cooke as their UK and international scout.

“It’s well documented we were behind the curve with regards the recruitment system,” said Dyche.

“We had one but we weren’t going into Europe. Now we are venturing over there. That doesn’t mean we are going to sign anyone but we are beginning to get the background and trying to get depth of knowledge that’s needed in recruitment.

“But there’s no guarantees; they don’t just grow on trees out there. There’s this misconception that you go into Europe and there’s thousands of players who are all brilliant for the Premier League. It’s not so.

“We still have to define the ones that are right, we still have to align them with the team and what fits the team moving forward. The British market has been a lot more unpredictable and a lot higher than it has been historically.

“It’s always been thought of as higher than going into Europe, which is why there are so many players from further afield coming into the English game, particularly at the Premier League level. We’ve found that it has been very, very tough.

“I can’t see it going backwards. With the new TV deal, everyone tells me that’s going to go up. There’s every chance the fees, contracts, wages, will go up in turn. It’s a tough challenge for us as a club.”

Dyche went on to play down reports linking the Clarets with a January swoop for Ecuadorian attacking midfielder Junior Sornoza, who has been likened to Real Madrid ace James Rodriguez. Sornoza is valued at around £3.5 million.

“Who is that? That’s news to me,” Dyche added. It would be highly unlikely that [our scouting] goes that far afield.

“We’re starting off building a base in England, going into Europe as the first marker and if and when there’s time to go beyond that, we’ll see. But certainly not at the moment, no.”

Will Burnley sign any players from the European mainland in January?