It seems Burnley fans have a lot to be frustrated about apart from the last-minute loss against Arsenal. According to reports, Sean Dyche has confirmed that their midfielder Dean Marney has suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in that game and will miss the rest of the season.
It was an attempted tackle on Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil in the final quarter of the game that led to the season-ending injury. He was shown a yellow card before he was carried off. The Clarets will be missing his experience in the midfield as the 32-year-old took a lot of responsibility at the heart of the team.
And it now seems that the team who looked self-sufficient to spend the winter transfer window without any buying will have to make the best of use the remaining 5 days of the window. Dyche even admitted it. When asked about strengthening his squad following Marney’s injury, he added,
“We were looking to strengthen anyway… Quite obviously, we’re not the market leaders so we have to be aware of what might change in our own group. We don’t work with a big number. We’re roughly around 20 recognised first-team players and we have to be working constantly to see what’s out there, what’s available and what fits into our bracket.”
It is obvious that the Clarets are unlikely to target any big names given their shortage of finance and with one of their prime targets, Robert Snodgrass, reportedly moving to West Ham United, they have a lot of digging to do.
Here are 3 alternatives Dyche could consider signing-
BEN OSBORN
The 22-year-old has played a significant role in the Nottingham Forest team this season making an impressive 27 appearances.
He has scored one goal this season, creating 57 chances and five assists. He has completed 703 passes this season with a pass accuracy of 79%, of which 59% have been forward passes. Newcastle United are preparing a £4 million bid for the Derby-born star, which gives an idea to Burnley to initiate a negotiation.
ADLÈNE GUÉDIOURA
Quite similar to Marney in his experience and playing style, the 31-year-old has found it difficult to get first team action at Watford and now with the inclusion of Tom Cleverley in the squad, he might see it further fading when he returns from the African Cup of Nations.
He has played 12 times this season getting one assist. A central midfielder by nature he can play both on the offensive as well as defensively.
IBRAHIMA CISSE
This Standard Liege’s deep lying midfielder by far looks like the ideal player to replace Marney in the midfield now. He has made 15 first team appearances so far scoring a goal completing 130 passes with a pass accuracy of 87%, of which 63% have been forward passes.
At 182cm, Cisse brings a strong presence in the midfield and Burnley should make a move for him at the first chance they get.
Stats Via Squawka.com
