Potential Departures
Burnley manager Nicky Hayen said that Hjalmar Ekdal, Lyle Foster and Andreas Hountondji could leave the club before the transfer deadline. The trio were omitted from the squad that lost 3-1 to West Brom on Sunday. Hayen admitted the possibility of their departure, adding that "That's a possibility." He explained that with new signings coming in, the club must decide who goes out. "So I told you also last week, when there are players coming in we also have to make decisions on who is going out," Hayen said. The same day, Shurandy Sambo and Michael Obafemi also did not feature in the match and could well move on. Speculation also continues to surround the future of Zian Flemming, who missed the game at The Hawthorns with a calf issue.
Manager's Transfer Strategy
Hayen’s side were comfortably second best against James Morrison’s West Brom, prompting suggestions that their squad is still a little short. The manager acknowledged that they still have work to do in the transfer market but remains confident that he can get more out of the current group. "We knew, even from last season, that we need more goal-threatening," he said. He added that new players must adapt to the level and intensity of the Premier League. "You come here on a sunny day, noon kick-off and early kick, so they have to adapt. Not only that, but also the intensity and then you have to increase your intensity," Hayen explained. He expressed confidence that once the new players adapt, the team will return to the level from last week. "Once we do this, also with our new players, we will go back to the level from last week and I'm really confident that we will do this," he said. Hayen concluded that it is good to have an eye-opener early on in the season and to change things around. "Like I said, it's good sometimes to have an eye-opener early on in the season and change things around," he added.
