Burnley have shifted their attention towards Swansea City duo, Alfie Mawson and Sam Clucas after meeting with hesitation from the West Brom camps. Sean Dyche had tabled a £25m bid for Albion’s Craig Dawson and Jay Rodriguez but faced immediate rejection. Since talks have not progressed over a possible move, the Clarets are willing to begin negotiations with Swansea.
Burnley will have to step up their efforts to get Mawson since he is valued at £20m by the Swans. The centre-back was their best defensive presence last season, despite failing to see the club out of relegation and is now wanted by many. Mawson had made 44 appearances this past season and finished with 3 goals and a single assist to his name. Not only was his performances from the Swans backline eye-catching, it has also drawn the attention of England head coach, Gareth Southgate.
The 24-year-old did not make the final cut for the 2018 FIFA World Cup but did get called up for the warm-up games against Italy and the Netherlands in March. He has already been capped 6 times for the Three Lions U21 side and is being talked around the same breath as some of the country’s very best.
With 71 total appearances for the Swans, Mawson has firmly established himself as a resolute figure in the Premier League. He arrived at Liberty Stadium from Barnsley in the summer of 2016.
Just like the story of current England international, Harry Maguire, Mawson’s journey to top-flight recognition has not come by easily. He was released by Reading when he was just 15 and was rejected by Bournemouth and Millwall as well. Brentford signed him on a two-year scholarship in 2010 and allowed him to make his debut against Derby County in August 2013.
The Englishman could not hold down a position in the starting XI and spent most of his time away on loan spells with Maidenhead United, Wycombe Wanderers, Luton Town and Welling United. He was finally given the opportunity to prove his worth at Barnsley where he made 63 appearances and scored 9 goals in League One, earning a switch to the Liberty.
Burnley already have the likes of James Tarkowski, Ben Mee and Kevin Long in the centre-back position but there is no harm in upgrading. Dyche implements a highly defensive system which has worked wonders in recent times. He needs to keep making improvements to the team and Mawson is the perfect addition to look forward to.