Who are the primary Burnley transfer targets in the 2024 January transfer window when the Clarets are fighting the relegation battle?
After returning to the Premier League for the first time of asking under the stewardship of recent sack race contender Vincent Kompany, Burnley has been way off from the form that they showed English fans in their promotion campaign.
Burnley are currently sitting in 19th place with just 11 points from the 20 games that they played. Vincent Kompany's side has not seen an easy life in the Premier League, and they are becoming favourites to be relegated at the end of this campaign.
The Clarets do not tend to spend more during the January window, as in the last three years they have spent £0 in 2021, £12.5m in 2022, and £14.7m in 2023.
Although the coach has already said that he will not jeopardize Burnley's future by spending big in January, if they want to stay alive in the Premier League, they will have to spend and get their top targets. Burnley transfer rumours in January 2024 are about their previous targets Pepe Gueye and Sacha Boey who they were not able to acquire in previous transfer markets.
Burnley transfer targets, rumours and odds
Pepe Gueye
The 24-year-old midfielder, Pepe Gueye, currently finds himself out of favour with Olympique de Marseille's manager, Gennaro Gattuso, resulting in only three appearances in Ligue 1 during the 2023-24 season.
Gueye had a brief stint at Watford in the summer of 2020 after departing from Le Havre. However, the midfielder was swiftly transferred away from Vicarage Road without making a single appearance due to disagreements over contractual terms.
Identified as a potential asset to help Burnley in their bid to avoid an immediate return to the Championship, Gueye's acquisition is seen as a strategic move for the second half of the season. However, the chance of us seeing Maatsen strutting his stuff at Turf Moor seems bleak.
Olympique de Marseille are reportedly seeking £15 million from the sale of the former Le Havre player, who has played a minimal 24 minutes in league football this campaign. As negotiations unfold, the outcome will shed light on whether Gueye becomes a crucial addition to Burnley's squad in their battle against relegation.
Sacha Boey
Burnley have set its sights on the 23-year-old right-back, Sacha Boey, from Galatasaray since last August. The Turkish giants are reportedly seeking a fee of around €25 million (£21 million) to facilitate the player's transfer, with Arsenal also expressing interest in acquiring his services.
Boey, a highly sought-after defender, could emerge as a potential long-term solution for Burnley at the right-back position. His potential arrival may pose challenges for Wales international Connor Roberts, potentially impacting his chances of securing a consistent role in the squad.
Despite Roberts boasting ten goal involvements, surpassing Boey in this aspect, the French youth international has demonstrated superior creative abilities by creating eight significant chances. In contrast, Roberts failed to generate a single big chance.
The interest in Boey extends beyond Burnley, with Arsenal and Lyon closely monitoring the developments surrounding the talented right-back. The outcome of negotiations will determine whether Boey becomes a valuable addition to Burnley or potentially explores opportunities with other interested clubs.
