If reports are to be believed, then Burnley are now eyeing a move for Everton’s fringe winger Aaron Lennon in the winter after their attempt to land the English winger failed in the summer. Everton decided on the last day that they will stick with him, but he hasn’t seen many regular chances for the Toffees.
Despite not getting their target, Burnley has been decent in their attacking front so far in the season with the Clarets winning two and drawing one in the opening four games. Sean Dyche broke all away trip fears with a blistering win at Stamford Bridge on the opening-day and an away draw to Tottenham Hotspur soon after.
They are sitting seventh in the table ahead of the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton and Leicester City and have scored five goals in four games. While Dyche’s playing tactics have never been to attack at every opportunity, like that of Eddie Howe at Bournemouth, Burnley don’t really play a negative brand of football either, like that of West Bromwich Albion. They have shown clinical finishes this season making every move count, no matter how few.
However, Dyche hasn’t seen great support from his wingers in executing his plans well. The likes of Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Jonathan Walters are yet to open their account in goals or assists and Burnley will be hugely thankful to the likes of Sam Vokes and Chris Wood who took the team home out of nothing.
Everton had their own reasons to keep Aaron Lennon. While Yannick Bolasie and Seamus Coleman, both will be fit to start, before the second half of the campaign, manager Ronald Koeman didn’t want to risk his flanks on an adapting Sandro Ramirez and a highly inconsistent Kevin Mirallas. Hence Lennon, although 30 and at a depreciating pace, would be helpful for him every now and then.
And the Dutch gaffer has used him similarly. The former Tottenham wide-man got only two substitutes appearances in all competitions so far, and as far as the Premier League is concerned he got seven minutes of action in the dying stages of Everton’s defeat against Chelsea.
With international football, not a realistic target for Lennon right now, he will want to end his once enthralling career on a good note and Burnley can provide that with first team chances. The Chapletown-born was an early bloomer in his career and came to the fore with some dazzling displays at White Hart Lane.
His peak time was with Spurs where he spent nine seasons managing to score 30 goals and providing 77 assists. His pace and excellent crossing helped him earn 21 caps. Can he be an option for Burnley?
