Burnley verdict on taking ‘huge financial risks’ in January to escape relegation
Burnley will not blow their budget in the January transfer window in a bid to secure their Premier League status.
That is according to football finance expert Dr Dan Plumley who has exclusively told Football Insider that he believes Burnley will continue to live within their financial means.
Burnley’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth leaves Scott Parker’s side in the bottom three and seven points from safety.
Parker could face the Burnley sack if their eight-game winless streak stretches further, with the Clarets known for being a club that alternates between the Premier League and Championship.
Burnley won’t ‘gamble’ in January
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Plumley believes Burnley will not change the way they operate to chase Premier League survival.
“I don’t think they should, and I don’t think they will ultimately,” Plumley said.
“I think that’s probably the more important point here. We’ve seen the way they’ve operated. They’ve made no bones about being a club that will continue at times to yo-yo a little bit. They’ve shown they’re not prepared to take huge financial risks to the kind of detriment of the long-term finances of the club.
“So they seem to be happy with this. We’ll go up. We’ll go down. That’ll help us financially, then we’ll take a hit and we’ll build again. It’s a club as well with different owners and different motives.
“But, you know, they’re also probably very aware that you could spend an awful lot of money in January and still go down. You can spend an awful lot of money in the summer and still go down. And so I don’t think they will change their stance on that.
“And I think that that goes back to the way they’ve approached this promotion and relegation in the last few years. So I don’t think they will.
“Right now they’re not dead and buried. Wolves look like they’re dead and buried, so that’s one probably gone. And the other clubs are just looking for position, but I don’t think we’ll see them gamble in January.”
Burnley targeting new striker
Burnley are in the race to sign Andrej Ilic from Union Berlin in January to bolster their attack ahead of the second half of the season.
The 25-year-old scored seven goals in 16 Bundesliga appearances last season, but he has yet to get off the mark this campaign.
Burnley have struggled to score goals this season, with just 19 netted in 17 Premier League games.