Exclusive: Burnley make last-gasp move to sign Andrej Ilic
Burnley have made a beat-the-deadline move to sign Union Berlin forward Andrej Ilic, sources have told Football Insider.
The 25-year-old Serbia international has been on Burnley‘s radar for a while and they are now hopeful of agreeing a late move to bring him to Turf Moor.
This comes after Football Insider exclusively revealed in December that Celtic and Burnley were racing to sign Ilic, and the Premier League outfit are now making their move.
He can play at centre-forward as well as wide right, and has provided eight assists alongside his one goal in 21 appearances across all competitions this season.
Ilic has a contract at Union Berlin until 2027 and Burnley hope they can tempt the Bundesliga outfit into cashing in while his value remains high.
Burnley accelerate move to sign Andrej Ilic
Scott Parker hopes the addition of a new forward will aid in the Clarets’ bid for survival, and Ilic has been identified as a top target in the window’s closing stage.
Burnley are 19th in the Premier League as things stand, 11 points away from safety, albeit with a game in hand as they prepare to face Sunderland on 2 February.
There is a growing feeling that they will need to be active before the window closes if they are to give themselves a fair shot at survival.
Left-back Quilindschy Hartman is their current assist leader having set up four goals in the Premier League, and Ilic is being eyed to add further creativity to their attack.
His performances in the Bundesliga have put a number of clubs on alert, including Scottish champions Celtic, but Burnley are moving quickly to win the race.
Burnley plot late move to sign Kalvin Phillips
Ilic is not the only player being targeted by Burnley late in the mid-season window, as Man City midfielder Kalvin Phillips has also emerged on their radar.
Football Insider revealed on 30 January that Wolves and Burnley want to sign Phillips and are hopeful of luring him away from the Etihad before the deadline.
Phillips has not featured for Man City since their Carabao Cup win against Huddersfield in September, and the relegation threatened duo are set to offer him a way out.
Pep Guardiola is prepared to let the England international leave this month as he is not part of his City plans for the rest of the season.
The midfielder’s contract at City is set to run until 2028, but all parties are keen for him to move on before the expiry date and are working towards that end.
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