Zeki.

[Tricky Trevor]

Not sure what his position is with us but he’s had a sad end in Benfica. Injured in the third last match, a virtual title decider against Sporting, he then missed the last two league games and Sporting won the league by 1 pt. Although declared fit he wasn’t selected for the Portuguese Cup Final.
Another nightmare for Benfica. Again it was Sporting for opposition with Benfica leading from the 73rd minute. Gyokeres equalised at 90+10 and Sporting went on to win it with goals at 99mins and 120+mins.
Will we see him again?

[Woodleyclaret]

Personally I hope so.

[Quickenthetempo]

Benfica deserve all they got.

Should have played our Zeki if you wanted success.

[HahaYeah]

Hopefully SP can fit him in and get something out of him.

[Bow]

I like him, and I suspect we’ll need all the attacking players we can lay our hands on.

[NewClaret]

The good news being that by not taking up their option to buy, Benfica owed us an extra €2m loan fee so we got €4m loan fee in total and a good player back.

[jrgbfc]

Not sure he's what we need for a relegation scrap.

[boatshed bill]

Not sure he's what we need for a relegation scrap.

Optimism not your strong point then?

[Quickenthetempo]

Not sure he's what we need for a relegation scrap.

You could say half our fan base aren't.

Judging by the number of walk outs when the opposition scored.

[Indecisive]

Tell you what.

I absolutely have faith in Parker to make the right call on this. And if Zeki lines up for us he will have my full backing, and absolute hope that he does the job for us.

[burnmark]

You could say half our fan base aren't.

Judging by the number of walk outs when the opposition scored.

That’s one thing I’m not looking forward to next season if the going gets tough.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Tell you what.

I absolutely have faith in Parker to make the right call on this. And if Zeki lines up for us he will have my full backing, and absolute hope that he does the job for us.

Part of me thinks could he be the Brownhill replacement (if he doesn’t sign).

Midfield three of Cullen, Hannibal or Laurent, Amdouni would honestly be pretty good. My only concern is I think you have to start Laurent if Amdouni starts.

[Hedontplayforyou]

If the lad worked as hard as everyone else then I could see him being very good. Unfortunately I don’t see envisage him doing that

[boatshed bill]

If the lad worked as hard as everyone else then I could see him being very good. Unfortunately I don’t see envisage him doing that

How can you be sure of that?

[beddie]

I like him but I’m not sure where he’ll fit in. He’s not a 9 or a 10.

[TsarBomba]

How can you be sure of that?

Last season was a pretty good indicator, wasn’t it?

I’m amazed at how many appear to be accepting of his lacklustre performances. The amount of times he got caught in dangerous areas was moronic.

Amdouni was the epitome of what wrong last season- you earn the right to play by first and foremost putting the hard yards in, which is at complete odds with the current squad.

Get rid.

[willsclarets]

He's probably our most talented striker, but I don't see him playing the 10. Just like he didn't want an attacker there (flemming) all season, its hard to imagine Zeki playing there. Direct competition for Flemming if he stays. Ramsey will be the new competition for that 10.spot I assume. Or dare I say Tresor!

[jsclaret]

I was in Lisbon a couple of weeks ago and chatted with some Benfica fans. They didn't think they would be buying him. They said much the same as many on here that he has the skills but not the work rate. I personally think he would still be a good member of the squad but not a regular starter.

[ksrclaret]

If we're to stand a chance of surviving, we need all outfield players to offer either height and physicality, or tenacity and agility. Ideally you'd have players offering all those traits, but they'll be at Newcastle and Aston Villa etc.

I don't think Amdouni offers any of the above - he's the very definition of a luxury creative player, which we might use from the bench on occasion, but we saw last time what happens when you have those types whilst trying to survive.

[bfcmik]

I think those judging any player, whether it be Amdouni, Trafford or anyone else on that last PL season under Kompany with what we would get from a Parker setup is trying to compare jelly to concrete. Kompany wanted the players to fit into his system, Parker seems to adapt the system to the available players. You only need to look at England's number 2 keeper under the 2 managers.

Whether it makes a difference to our final league position is anybody's guess.

[dougcollins]

How can you be sure of that?

Previous experience?

[BigGaz]

I CBA screenshotting again but have a read through the Benfica fans forum on the thread that's dedicated to him if you want.

https://serbenfiquista.com/forum/index. ... 69660.6375.

They are saying exactly the same things we said last season. Has all of the talent required, but seemingly not the mentality or application.

Reminds me of the ilk of players that Chelsea have been buying lately. Nkunku, Mudryk, Felix, Sancho et al. Look mint when you're belting the cannon fodder of the league 4-0 but not someone to be relied on when you need adults to stand up and be counted.

Not adverse to him staying because if anyone can bring on that side of his game it's Parker but I can quite happily leave him too.

[Quickenthetempo]

Last season was a pretty good indicator, wasn’t it?

I’m amazed at how many appear to be accepting of his lacklustre performances. The amount of times he got caught in dangerous areas was moronic.

Amdouni was the epitome of what wrong last season- you earn the right to play by first and foremost putting the hard yards in, which is at complete odds with the current squad.

Get rid.

Who did you blame for us being absolute bobbins when Zeki wasn't playing?

[Big Vinny K]

Who did you blame for us being absolute bobbins when Zeki wasn't playing?

It’s perfectly normal for more than one player to play badly. In fact we perfected the art of it that season better than most.
I agree though that losing the ball as often as Amdouni did in the premier league especially is going to hurt you. The speed that these teams are breaking on you and outnumbering you and the quality of their final ball and finishing is just so difficult to deal with.

And even more difficult is how managers like Emre who have forgotten more than Kompany knows about the game deliberately set traps for you so that they can counter attack. The game against Villa on the Turf we actually played some of our best football of the season in the first half an hour and he made a couple of tactical changes and they destroyed us for the rest of the game.

[JR1882]

Technically he would be our best attacking player, he is better than what we have now and I won’t judge anyone based on VKs season in the prem.

I’d worry about our ability to press effectively with him and Edward’s in the team as neither is really a grafter.

[bobinho]

I really thought he was a baller when he arrived, but having watched him, I’m utterly unconvinced he brings anything to this team.

I eagerly await SP to work his magic and turn him into a PL class player who works hard for the cause when we don’t have the ball, and then makes really good team decisions when he does.

[ecc]

If Besiktas are willing to pay £16m for him I suspect he'll be Istanbul-bound.

https://the72.co.uk/2025/05/27/burnley- ... -besiktas/

[Stalbansclaret]

I'd bite the and off anyone paying that kind of money for him. I'm another who thinks Zeki is definitely NOT what we need next season. Yes he is capable of some good moments but he is the absolute definition of a luxury player, prone to terrible decision making and frustratingly losing the ball.

[NL Claret]

Keep reading about Edwards not tracking back or been a grafter. Not sure what this is based on or why it has come about.

No doubt it will be a label for some posters to use.

[Cheshireclaret]

It’s perfectly normal for more than one player to play badly. In fact we perfected the art of it that season better than most.
I agree though that losing the ball as often as Amdouni did in the premier league especially is going to hurt you. The speed that these teams are breaking on you and outnumbering you and the quality of their final ball and finishing is just so difficult to deal with.

And even more difficult is how managers like Emre who have forgotten more than Kompany knows about the game deliberately set traps for you so that they can counter attack. The game against Villa on the Turf we actually played some of our best football of the season in the first half an hour and he made a couple of tactical changes and they destroyed us for the rest of the game.

We were 2-0 down after 20 minutes in the Villa game to which you refer, with Delcroix's head rotating on its' axis, so I'm not quite sure how you drew that conclusion.

[CoolClaret]

We were 2-0 down after 20 minutes in the Villa game to which you refer, with Delcroix's head rotating on its' axis, so I'm not quite sure how you drew that conclusion.

Yeah this, they absolutely battered us for the entire first half - was easily one of the most one-sided halves of football I've ever witnessed (it even prompted me to start a thread, along the lines 'Anyone else think that we've approached the season completely wrong?').

They got in behind countless times, zipping the ball across goal, done by exploiting the wide space we vacated when the fullback (Roberts) inverted and a back three formed in possession. They nicked the ball off us after we overplayed or took a bad touch and immediately zipped it into dangerous areas.

Lyle scored an outstanding goal, bullying Pau Torres (we all thought that was going to be the start of an incredible season for Lyle), but Villa took the sting out of the game and ended up bagging another.

[ClaretOfMancunia]

If Besiktas are willing to pay £16m for him I suspect he'll be Istanbul-bound.

https://the72.co.uk/2025/05/27/burnley- ... -besiktas/

About what we paid for him, can't really complain if he goes. Although as someone else said, I'll trust Parker's judgement on him either way.

[FCBurnley]

If we can get around what we paid then I would certainly sell him. Think we can get better for that money and if he stays he will probably only be a squad player

[warksclaret]

As I have posted on the Summer Transfer thread-selling him might provide funds to get Tella back. Imagine the lift this would give our fans and the club. His speed and work rate would make us a more potent attacking force and he can finish

[IanMcL]

Turkey beckons

[HahaYeah]

https://www.turkiyetoday.com/sports/bes ... an-3202027

Besiktas has begun formal negotiations to sign Zeki Amdouni, a lifelong supporter of the club. His current club, English side Burnley, has set an initial asking price of 20 million pounds ($26.95 million).

However, Besiktas is working to bring that figure down.

The Black and Whites are targeting the 24-year-old forward, who spent last season on loan at Benfica.

Despite the exorbitant fee, the Besiktas board remains determined. Club President Serdal Adali reportedly plans to fund the transfer through sponsorship.

[ClaretLoup]

Sounds like Besiktas are like a lot of Turkish clubs and actually haven't got any money. Also we don't want any fee in Turkish Lira given their inflation rate currently 38%.

[JR1882]

Sounds like Besiktas are like a lot of Turkish clubs and actually haven't got any money. Also we don't want any fee in Turkish Lira given their inflation rate currently 38%.

The big clubs tend to have lots of ageing former stars/big names who are signed cheap/free but command big wages meaning they don’t always have a lot of wiggle room in their budgets to pay big transfer fees. I suspect we would settle for something north of about 16m given the loan fee we have had from Benfica as well (and the fact they will have been covering his wages too).

[Quickenthetempo]

As I have posted on the Summer Transfer thread-selling him might provide funds to get Tella back. Imagine the lift this would give our fans and the club. His speed and work rate would make us a more potent attacking force and he can finish

Tella wouldn't be a guaranteed success, he's only ever had one successful season where he started the majority of games. And that was for us in the championship.

Everyone has Tella's speed in the Premier league and he has no physical presence.

[warksclaret]

Tella wouldn't be a guaranteed success, he's only ever had one successful season where he started the majority of games. And that was for us in the championship.

Everyone has Tella's speed in the Premier league and he has no physical presence.

WOW-thats some statement. I accept he is a slim footballer and may not have the muscle of some of the PL players, but as to being slower than any player in the PL ????? He would easily be our quickest player, which I appreciate is not difficult, but he has shown he has pace in the Bundesliga,which I believe is a stronger league than the Championship.

[Quickenthetempo]

WOW-thats some statement. I accept he is a slim footballer and may not have the muscle of some of the PL players, but as to being slower than any player in the PL ????? He would easily be our quickest player, which I appreciate is not difficult, but he has shown he has pace in the Bundesliga,which I believe is a stronger league than the Championship.

I didn't say he was slower, just that everyone has that sort of pace.

[KRBFC]

Last season was a pretty good indicator, wasn’t it?

I’m amazed at how many appear to be accepting of his lacklustre performances. The amount of times he got caught in dangerous areas was moronic.

Amdouni was the epitome of what wrong last season- you earn the right to play by first and foremost putting the hard yards in, which is at complete odds with the current squad.

Get rid.

He worked his arse off in many games, West Ham at home he was the best player on the pitch and probably covered the most ground, the game changed when he was subbed and we conceded 2 late goals. Anfield he was excellent first half, he worked his arse off at Craven Cottage and provided an assist having won the ball back pressing high.

His form and general performances certainly took a dip after February though.

[ClaretPete001]

Everyone has said it really. I think he'd be good in the mix but if you can get £16 million for him and bag a quality centre forward to complement/compete with Flemming then I think that would be a good way forward for us.

[claret wizard]

That’s one thing I’m not looking forward to next season if the going gets tough.

I think it was made worse in the Kompany season that most fans were baffled by the approach, and lack of changes to be even slightly more pragmatic. When you can see the problems, and the manager is doing nothing about them.

[claretspice]

There's a decent player in Amdouni, but I don't think his movement was quite good enough for the Premier League (too often, he wanted the ball to feet, stood still, and you simply don't get that sort of time in the Premier League) and his work rate wasn't quite enough - that's not to say he was lazy, more that he needed time to adapt the demands and intensity of the Premier League (particularly when it came to pressing). Had he come into a team with 10 others who understood those demands and worked like trojans (say, one of Dyche's earlier Premier League teams - it is often forgotten that at times initially Defour struggled with that transition and was dragged through by others in the team), perhaps he might have had a chance - but that isn't where we were last season. We had a whole heap of players who were all making the same quantum leap and of those too many who were not naturally physical, athletic or robust sorts of footballers (we improved markedly once we finally started playing Vitinho on one flank who added more physical and athletic presence down one side).

We might be closer to that model this season but we've lots of players who will themselves have to make a step up in physicality and with the likes of Edwards already in the squad, I'm not sure it's realistic to expect Amdouni to get the indulgence he would need to adapt.

As a result, I think there's a good case for selling him. It's quite notable that interest in him has come from the more technical, slower and less intense leagues of southern Europe and I suspect that is no coincidence. If he does stay though, he's got enough potential that with a more demanding group around him he might yet step up.