Burnley are already having a busy time in the transfer market, as they opened their summer business with the signing of Charlie Taylor from Leeds United and Jon Walters from Stoke City. However, they also had to face a big blow, as they had to let go of their prized possession and one of the best defenders in the Premier League in the last season, Michael Keane, who went on to join Everton.
The defence has undoubtedly been the strongest aspect of the Burnley side for the last few seasons, with the ex-Manchester United defender being in the forefront of their good show in the Premier League. Without him, it is going to be a tough ask for the Clarets to survive one more season in the top flight. However, they are looking to bring in a player who can be a suitable replacement for the Englishman in their backline for the next season.
Sunderland, who succumbed to the ill fate of facing relegation in the last season, had to let go of their two main players in the form of young goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and veteran striker Jermain Defoe to Premier League sides Everton and Bournemouth respectively. As the situation stands now, they might even have to let go off one of their mainstays in defence, the Ivory Coast international Lamine Kone in the next season, with another Premier League club Burnley looking to rope in the centre back in the summer.
The inspirational defender has a towering presence in the Sunderland defence and has marshalled it well in the last few seasons, attracting interest from a number of clubs in the Premier League as well as the Championship. Sunderland even had an offer of £18 million from Everton to bag him turned down in the last season. Currently, the player is subject to profound interest from the Clarets and might be making a move to the top tier in the summer.
The Ivory Coast international has represented his club on 46 occasions and has been safeguarding their defence since his arrival in the 2015/16 season. Sean Dyche, the manager of Burnley is hopeful that the Ivory Coast international will keep doing the good work for his team as well, as he is plotting a raid on the Black Cats for their prized possession to replace his team’s talismanic defender Michael Keane.
Sunderland, however, might not be able to demand a big amount for their defensive star as they are now in the Championship.
