Summer transfer window 2023 - rumours, links and discussion.

[Oldparkwood]

In general are two ways for an investor to put money into the club

- one is a share issue in Burnley FC Holdings Limited - given there are still hundreds of shareholders that would require giving them the option of maintaining their percentage holding - just selling a large number of shares to an exiting or new investor would dilute other holdings and is not allowed by law without opening up the offer to exiting shareholders. That has categorically not happened

- the second is to provide a loan to the club so that it increases the cash balance

there are Profit and sustainability rules around both such practices

However our club is in a rather unique position - it is owed £114.8m by the owners, if all or a substantial proportion of that was repaid then the club would have much more cash and no issue in regards to Profit and Sustainability. Such an instance would provide a huge head start on transfers, and with a return to the Premier League their should be headroom in the additional revenues to help with the associated wage inflation.

It should be remembered that we are also headed for a new generation of FFP type rules - UEFA's new Financial Sustainability regulations being the the marker of the kind of approach that is likely to be taken. It is likely to mean that a combined football cost of around 80% - 85% of revenues will be the limit in the Premier League within a couple of years. - our previous 4 seasons in that league saw us running at over 90%

the easy way to combat this is by growing revenues - under the new ownership the only areas of growth on that from has been directly from the fans and local community (matchday, retail and catering) and following last summers fire sale. player trading. Our return to the Premier League will see some TV revenue growth (each position is up by 10% or so but the club simply must do better commercially with the figures in the last accounts proving very disappointing, being down on the previous year even though fans had returned. It was even further behind the last couple of years of the Garlick reign

Shall we keep this thread on topic?

[RVclaret]

Southampton do not want to sell Nathan Tella and it’s looking increasingly likely he will stay at St. Mary’s (Dean Jones).

[Pickles]

Update on Verbruggen from this morning.

[Big Vinny K]

In general are two ways for an investor to put money into the club

- one is a share issue in Burnley FC Holdings Limited - given there are still hundreds of shareholders that would require giving them the option of maintaining their percentage holding - just selling a large number of shares to an exiting or new investor would dilute other holdings and is not allowed by law without opening up the offer to exiting shareholders. That has categorically not happened

- the second is to provide a loan to the club so that it increases the cash balance

there are Profit and sustainability rules around both such practices

However our club is in a rather unique position - it is owed £114.8m by the owners, if all or a substantial proportion of that was repaid then the club would have much more cash and no issue in regards to Profit and Sustainability. Such an instance would provide a huge head start on transfers, and with a return to the Premier League their should be headroom in the additional revenues to help with the associated wage inflation.

It should be remembered that we are also headed for a new generation of FFP type rules - UEFA's new Financial Sustainability regulations being the the marker of the kind of approach that is likely to be taken. It is likely to mean that a combined football cost of around 80% - 85% of revenues will be the limit in the Premier League within a couple of years. - our previous 4 seasons in that league saw us running at over 90%

the easy way to combat this is by growing revenues - under the new ownership the only areas of growth on that from has been directly from the fans and local community (matchday, retail and catering) and following last summers fire sale. player trading. Our return to the Premier League will see some TV revenue growth (each position is up by 10% or so but the club simply must do better commercially with the figures in the last accounts proving very disappointing, being down on the previous year even though fans had returned. It was even further behind the last couple of years of the Garlick reign

Think that’s a pretty harsh and a bit of distorted view of the revenue position there CP.
How much impact does any business have in its first 12 months following a take over ?
We know that there has been massive changes to the staffing at the club and it takes time to bring in your own people and implement new strategies etc.
Things have been put in place to increase our match day revenue and this will undoubtedly show in the next set of accounts - we have new corporate facilities and our crowds including increased walk ons (at higher ticket prices) have all been very positive. You describe this as the “only” change in revenue so far - well it’s a pretty big change and if you are going to prioritise anything it’s the match day revenue and getting fans back to the ground that you would look to do as owners. Success on the pitch directly leads to other opportunities.

They have also at long last changed the catering contract and again we need to wait to see this have a commercial impact but I’m pretty confident it will (on the basis of how poor it was before !!)

We will have to wait and see re advertising and sponsorship income but not sure how you can put any reduction in this down to the new owners given the published accounts you are referring to give them no time to have any impact and there are so many other external global factors impacting sponsorship and advertising in sport as a whole.

What more do you think they could have done in such a short space of time between the takeover and the first set of accounts ?
And do you not think from what you can see that’s happened to the club the next set of accounts will show more improvement in revenue ? (Putting aside the sponsorship was always going to drop with relegation)

[Big Vinny K]

Shall we keep this thread on topic?

Apologies - I should not have responded and should be on another thread like you say.

[ClaretTony]

Update on Verbruggen from this morning.

Tavolieri always worth keeping an eye on with anyone from Belgium

[Pickles]

Tavolieri always worth keeping an eye on with anyone from Belgium

Definitely, so this is encouraging news.

[Jakubclaret]

I personally think midfield is the most critical.
Lokonga should dramatically help there

Going off his palace stint he’s more of a live wire than combative, he’s very raw but shows promise, I think patience is key as he will make mistakes.

[NewClaret]

With this and Tony’s news that he has an article written, I’m getting excited that this could be close.

With him being rated as the best young GK prospect in Europe, would be a real statement to other potential signings.

[gandhisflipflop]

I’d be extremely excited to see verbuggen sign.

Exciting times

[FCBurnley]

15m for a 20 year old keeper is big bucks. Remind me again how much we sold Pope for.

[Hedontplayforyou]

Would have loved Tella to stay with us but we won’t be held to ransom . Only way this gets done is if the player forces it.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Would have loved Tella to stay with us but we won’t be held to ransom . Only way this gets done is if the player forces it.

Dean Jones on Twitter is saying he’s staying with Southampton.

[Spijed]

So who do we get for £15 million that's likely to as effective as Tella?

[NewClaret]

So who do we get for £15 million that's likely to as effective as Tella?

Reports are that they’re asking for more, maybe £20m.

Or just don’t want to sell at all, in which case we have no choice about it. They’ll have to sell a lot of players to balance the books after their January spending so to have a proven 20 goal striker on relatively minuscule wages will be a big attraction to them.

[Newcastleclaret93]

So who do we get for £15 million that's likely to as effective as Tella?

Based on the links I would say possibly Mikaudetze

[RVclaret]

Based on the links I would say possibly Mikaudetze

Amad Diallo on loan would be close to like for like.

Also linked with Alieu Fadera the other day who looks similar.

My shout a few weeks ago was Joseph Paintsil from Genk.

[FeedTheArf]

So who do we get for £15 million that's likely to as effective as Tella?

Much as I love Tella and would ideally like him to sign, there are no guarantees he would’ve been anything like as effective in the league above.

Southampton will quite rightly have seen what he’s done for us and want him to do the same. I can’t see us coming up with an offer that is too good for them to refuse.

[PremierLeagueClass]

Shame about Tella, I thought he’d do more to force a move. He could be a top player one day if his football brain develops.

[ksrclaret]

If Tella had been available for the right price, say around the £10m mark, I’d have snapped your hands off for him back this season because he adds so much to the team.

I don’t think Southampton want to sell, if they did sell it would take a silly offer to get him, and from what Tella said at the end of the season I don’t think he’s going to kick up a fuss and force a move.

I think we’ll have to move on to other targets unfortunately.

[Wokingclaret]

So sad if true about Tella.

[Chester Perry]

Is this true CP?

Presumably the other route is to invest in ten HoldCo that owns BFC and the money is then used as a cash injection in the club and the corresponding debt owed reduces?

And that’s the route that recent investors like the Watt’s have used to become investors?

It is true, it should also be recognised that ALK/VSL probably have higher priorities for their monies than repaying the club at this juncture

The Watts have invested in ALK/VSL - they are not bringing much in cash terms but have done more in brand awareness than anyone ever previously - there will be lots happening to try and turn that into income revenue

in 2022 I believe that ALK/VSL put circa £27m into share buying activities (this is money investors have put into the group (I suspect that group numbers between 15 and 25 now) - previously that money would have come from the club as a loan to CVHL, so in essence the clubs was better off as it carried less expenditure o satisfy the takeover burden that year

I understand ALK/VSL have one stage payment left of around £21m due this year - it would be helpful to the club if ALK/VSL pay for that from their own monies (i.e. monies investors in their group have paid them)

We are led to believe that there is a serious bid for KV Kortrilk in excess of EUR 15m - again it would be beneficial to our club if ALK/VSL use their own monies to meet that cost. More so when you accept that it will be ALK/VSL that would own them not Burnley FC Holdings should the takeover complete. That would not stop co-operation between the two clubs.

down the line there is the outstanding ringfence on the shares still owned by the original sellers (Garlick and co) - if these are to be sold at the same value as the original shares that is circa £20m in a deal that expires early October 2024. Again it would be good for the club for ALK/VSL to use it's own funds to meet that cost

It is all this, when combined with the transfer links that leads me to expect some kind of factoring of future tv revenues to help us through the next two windows with next summer being one where we will start to see some serious player sales - though I expect we will see a number this summer if they are profitable - particularly from fringe players

[Chester Perry]

Shall we keep this thread on topic?

as always on threads like these I was responding to another poster - I do not kick off that input - I do maintain that it is relevant to the discussion

[NewClaret]

The Watts have invested in ALK/VSL - they are not bringing much in cash terms

Keen not to go OT but do you know this for a fact or are you speculating?

[claretburns]

Still very early in the summer for it to be certain Tella will be staying at Southampton, the window hasn't even opened yet.

Tella is good friends with Obafemi and Obafemi didn't get on with Russell Martin at Swansea so you would think Obafemi has given his opinion to Tella about Martin.

Also it is not absolutely vital to sign Tella this early to integrate him into the team and Kompany's philosophy after being here last season, he could easily say still sign at the end of July/August and fit right in perfectly to the team.

The only issue from Tella's side, is if he does indeed want to return here, he would need to start creating a fuss at Southampton, as the longer the deal doesn't happen, the more likely it is we'll move to other targets and the funds for Tella and the squad space will be gone.

[blake's wand]

Tella been brilliant for us this season, but will be a completely different test against prem oppo. Not worth breaking bank for imo

[Nori1958]

Keen not to go OT but do you know this for a fact or are you speculating?

I didn't think any figure or percentage had been mentioned

[northernpowerhouse]

"I'm told they don't really want to sell him to Burnley. So, unless Burnley can force them to reconsider that passage of thought, I think he's more likely to remain at Saints."

So Saints don't really want to sell him. Hardly news is it? Still a good chance he ends up here imo.

[Chester Perry]

Keen not to go OT but do you know this for a fact or are you speculating?

I didn't think any figure or percentage had been mentioned

Didn't JJ explicitly say he was a Minor investor - in bigger clubs than ours this has meant less than $10m

add in that:

to date we can only track around £37m of monies being invested into shares in the club by VSL

we know of at least 10 investors

I suspect the actual number to be double that - particularly when looking at the Directors box for the Cardiff game - which was very full and I could not identify any Cardiff directors, executives from the images I have seen

so an an absolute provable fact - No
a reasoned case with strong probability - Yes

[Oldparkwood]

Didn't JJ explicitly say he was a Minor investor - in bigger clubs than ours this has meant less than $10m

add in that:

to date we can only track around £37m of monies being invested into shares in the club by VSL

we know of at least 10 investors

I suspect the actual number to be double that - particularly when looking at the Directors box for the Cardiff game - which was very full and I could not identify any Cardiff directors, executives from the images I have seen

so an an absolute provable fact - No
a reasoned case with strong probability - Yes

FFS this is exactly how a thread goes off topic

[Hedontplayforyou]

I haven’t read what the article says about Tella, but could this be a ploy from Saints just to get a higher fee from us?

[Chester Perry]

FFS this is exactly how a thread goes off topic

again you will find I have answered a question and included a second statement from another poster - I did not start the line of discussion

and I have already moved one conversation elsewhere

you are targeting the wrong person

[Oldparkwood]

again you will find I have answered a question and included a second statement from another poster - I did not start the line of discussion

and I have already moved one conversation elsewhere

you are targeting the wrong person

Don’t answer the question then

[ClaretTony]

Latest update from Tavolieri on Verbruggen


After the first bid, #BurnleyFC will answer to #Anderlecht’s counter proposal for Bart #Verbruggen. Clarets are ready to improve their offer close to 15M£ (17,5M€) so they can meet #RSCA expectations. Everything’s happening in a really positive way for all parties involved.

[Vegas Claret]

and that's why I started the other thread for just links

[eastcoastclaret]

Latest update from Tavolieri on Verbruggen


After the first bid, #BurnleyFC will answer to #Anderlecht’s counter proposal for Bart #Verbruggen. Clarets are ready to improve their offer close to 15M£ (17,5M€) so they can meet #RSCA expectations. Everything’s happening in a really positive way for all parties involved.

Looks like this could be our 1st signing of the summer

[Wokingclaret]

Don’t answer the question then

Come on Tom210, we are all wondering where the money is coming from to pay the transfer fees of the players linked.

Thanks for the info Chester Perry

[ClaretTony]

Looks like this could be our 1st signing of the summer

Second - Beyer already in and I suspect Obafemi will officially sign on 1st July

[Chester Perry]

Don’t answer the question then

oh Dear, I cannot answer a direct question but you can respond by telling me what I should/should not do

that is not how I was brought up, the question was put directly to ne and I answered in as clear and as short a way as possible

I also though I had answered the previous questions in as clear a way as possible so as not to lead to further questions - you could always block me - I am sure others do, or should at least consider it.

Here's a question or two for you

why having been registered on here for so long are you suddenly being active and apparently adopting a stance of moderator? I haven't been registered as long but have been substantially more active and would not dream of adopting such a position.
Do you never have conversations (which is what threads effectively are) that divert down side alleys for a short time?

Such short diversions can and do have relevance but are not the main substance, it does nothing to stop them enriching the discussion and providing a greater understanding of (in this particular thread) those elements which enables transfers such as available funding.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Sacha has put another tweet out

Looks like it’s just a matter of time until he’s a Burnley player.

Wonder if Muric might be on the way out?

[ClaretTony]

Sacha has put another tweet out

Looks like it’s just a matter of time until he’s a Burnley player.

Wonder if Muric might be on the way out?

I posted it six posts up from yours

[123EasyasBFC]

I posted it six posts up from yours

Do you have any update on jack Clarke since speaking to your pal in the week?

[RVclaret]

I think what we have to remember on these deals are

1. The ‘reported’ fee will include a fair amount of performance related bonuses (this has happened already with Beyer)
2. Most deals you pay over several years (5m per year for 3 years, sometimes longer, for example) so the immediate cashflow is -5m
3. The risk of course is relegation but as we showed on the last relegation we can offload the players we still owe on (if necessary) at a profit and therefore remove those debts.
4. Kompany has proven to Pace and co that he can develop players and significantly increase their value, again reducing the risk of no resale.

[dermotdermot]

Southampton do not want to sell Nathan Tella and it’s looking increasingly likely he will stay at St. Mary’s (Dean Jones).

I have a feeling that he will stay with Southampton and probably regret it. They won’t get promoted and will not be the player that he was for us.

[NewClaret]

Sacha has put another tweet out

Looks like it’s just a matter of time until he’s a Burnley player.

Wonder if Muric might be on the way out?

It’ll be BPF on the way out!

[Jakubs Tash]

If Burnley believe Verbruggen will probably be worth £50m in two years then it’s an absolute no brainier to sign him now at £15m, surely?

Remember, it wouldn’t be £15m up front either. The deal would be structured.

Not every signing is going to be for £3-4m hoping to sell for £20m further down the line. Some are going to be more of an initial outlay with the potential for a relatively similar mark up when it comes to selling.

Anyway, fingers crossed we can get Verbruggen over the line. It would be nice to beat Brighton to the signing. They had a great season last season…..but their fans are still a very self-entitled and unlikeable bunch.

[Rileybobs]

So Vinny is looking for a new number one for the increased demands of the PL, who’d have thunk it?

[AGENT_CLARET]

I never thunk it'd happen

[DCWat]

It’ll be interesting to look at the window as a whole, when it closes. As it stands now, I think I’d be more inclined to invest in Tella and keep Muric as number one.

I’m in no way saying that Verbruggen wouldn’t be a great signing and it may prove to be a master stroke.

It’s hard to judge any deals in isolation.

It certainly looks like we could be in for another exciting transfer window, for those of us who like this sort of thing.

[Nori1958]

So Vinny is looking for a new number one for the increased demands of the PL, who’d have thunk it?

Bart was always his first choice last summer, but failed at the last hurdle, hence Muric being welcomed to the club with a Bart Simpson video...it will be interesting what happens with Muric but we don't pay 16m for someone not to play