Ex-Clarets make late moves
The transfer window finally closed last night with Burnley making one deadline day signing with the loan capture of midfielder Mike Trésor from KRC Genk, but there were also a few former Burnley players involved on the mad dash last day.
Before looking at the three who were involved yesterday, we must report that the Free Nathan Tella campaign proved to be a success in getting him out of Southampton. The only issue was that he didn’t return to Turf Moor but switched from Southampton to the Bundesliga, signing for Bayer Leverkusen 04.
Saints said they were disappointed to lose such a talented homegrown player and popular character but felt the deal represented fair value.
Remaining at Southampton, and our loan players from last season, I think they made a really good signing yesterday with the arrival of Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Manchester City. He had an outstanding 2022/23 season at Burnley and I was always somewhat surprised we didn’t target a return for him.
He’s now joined Southampton on loan for the season with it reported that there is a potential permanent deal in place should they win promotion.
Meanwhile, Jeff Hendrick is on the move again. He moved from Burnley to Newcastle in the summer of 2020 on a four-year contract but hasn’t played a game for them since December 2021 when he came on as a substitute in a 4-0 home defeat against Manchester City.
He spent the second half of that season on loan at QPR and last season enjoyed a season long loan at Reading for whom he played all but one game. He won’t play for Newcastle again; his contract ends next summer and yesterday he signed a loan deal with Sheffield Wednesday for the season.
Finally, there was a move yesterday for former under-21 midfielder Ben Woods. I was always impressed with him and was surprised when he turned down a deal last year to continue at Burnley. It led to an unsuccessful trial at Sunderland before he eventually signed for Inverness Caledonian Thistle. He made seven appearances for them at first team level although all of them were from the bench.
Yesterday, he returned to his native north west to sign for Accrington Stanley until the end of the season. He’s been training with them for a few weeks and manager John Coleman described him as a tenacious, good midfielder with a great left foot.
We wish all four of them the very best at their new clubs.
Follow UpTheClarets:
Share this page :