Sean Dyche’s 2017/18 campaign has been one of the finest in his career in England. It is a campaign that the Clarets have been waiting for over decades. Burnley are in the Europa League next season and their first qualifier against Aberdeen will be played on the 27th of July.
So the manager does not have too much time to scout and add transfer targets to his squad, to help him compete in all competitions next season. So it does not come as a surprise that they are linked with a number of stars recently and one player now on their radar is James Collins.
The 34-year old is one of the most experienced defenders in the Premier League at the moment. He spent two stints at West Ham United, making over 150 league appearances and was crucial in the Hammers’ pursuit to avoid the drop last season.
He made 12 league starts, putting in some solid performances against the likes of Crystal Palace and Huddersfield Town but he is now 34 and out of a contract with the London club this summer. And reports now claim that the Clarets are looking to add Collins to their squad, adding depth to their backline.
The Welsh international is strong in the air and meets most crosses thrown at him. He may not be adept at passing his way out of danger but his no-nonsense defending sits well into the profile for Burnley. He is full of concentration and rarely makes mistakes and will bring loads of experience to a squad that is now dreaming big.
Burnley have Ben Mee and James Tarkowski as their first choice pairing at the back. Kevin Long remains the only backup to the duo, leaving the squad pretty weak in defence. They do not have financial resources to spend on star players as backups to their first team names so luring a free agent to Turf Moor makes a lot of sense for Dyche.
At 34, Collins is not a player that will help them for years to come but he will certainly be ready when called upon next season, giving the club flexibility at the back. But more importantly, both Mee and Tarkowski continue to be linked with an exit this summer so buying a centre-back is of priority for Dyche, making Collins and urgent requirement.
On a free transfer, the 34-year old is a more than a handy asset to have next season for Burnley.
