Burnley looks set for a top-half finish this season as Sean Dyche’s men continue their impressive displays in the Premier League squeezing out a point away at Hull City. Getting points from away fixtures have been a tremendously difficult task for the Clarets this season and if they continue to get few positive results in the next few matches, Dyche will inarguably do a brilliant job with an average core of players at his disposal.
However, a big issue for the English manager will be to hold on to his revelations next season. Players like Michael Keane, Andre Gray and Sam Vokes have been impressive this season and numerous clubs are waiting patiently to raid them when the transfer window opens next summer. Dyche surely has an eye on that as reports emerge of the English manager scrapping his exclusively-British player policy and going for the highly-rated Bundesliga side Mainz defender Giulio Donati.
Reportedly, the Burnley manager is willing to shell out £3m for the 27-year-old Italian full-back. Donati has been impressive for the last four seasons in Germany with Champions League side Bayer Leverkusen and his move to mid table club Mainz last summer hasn’t brought any dip in his performance.
Although certain Italian sides are also interested in landing him, Burnley should be able to compete with them financially from the income generated by being in the Premier League, as the club exhibited by the signing of Robbie Brady last winter.
A right-back by nature Donati can play on either flank and even up on the wings as and when needed. A product of Italian side Lucchese Berretti, Donati was picked up by Inter Milan back in 2008. Playing for the club, Donati spent loan stints at Italian clubs like Lecce, Padova, Grosseto before German side Bater Leverkusen picked him up at 2013. With Leverkusen, Donati had three seasons where he played Champions League football in each of the seasons with the club facing the likes of Barcelona, Manchester United and Paris St Germain, before signing for Mainz last summer.
Donati can bring top-level experience to Burnley’s back line if the Clarets manage to buy him. Donati is known for his discipline on the ball and brilliant blocking abilities. Although his knack of relying on physical strength leads him to foul often, it is one attribute which could come in handy for in English football. At 178cm, Donati is clearly not the tallest of full-backs, but his pace on the ball could be advantageous for Burnley.
