Burn heats up Brighton competition
BRIGHTON feel like they have made the first signing of the new transfer window after Dan Burn finally joined from Wigan.
Defender Burn, who is 6ft 7in, actually signed for about £3million on a four-year deal in August but was immediately sent back to his former club. Now, however, the 26-year-old has arrived at the Amex.
Manager Chris Hughton said: “Dan is officially with us now and he very much comes into the frame.
“In structuring the deal, Wigan initially wanted to keep him while we wanted to buy him, so there was a compromise and he was allowed to go back there on loan for a period.
“The plus side of that is that he’s up to speed, fit and has been playing games. He’s a player of experience and a very good size for a centre-half. He’ll give us valuable competition.”
Burn, who has also played for Fulham and Birmingham, will not be in the squad to face West Ham tomorrow, but could figure in the FA Cup match at Bournemouth on Saturday. Hughton, 60, celebrated four years at the Brighton helm BURN: Signed from Wigan yesterday, having driven the Seagulls to their 2017 Premier League bow and well beyond.
Reflecting on his tenure, Hughton said he jumped at the chance to join them, while at the same time warning against any top-flight complacency.
“I never had any reservations about coming here, sometimes when there’s an opportunity to go somewhere it can really appeal,” said Hughton. “This club instantly appealed to me with the facilities and the fan base, along with the prospects of what could be achieved with hard work.
“I have a chairman and owner who has put a lot of money into his club, I won’t always be here but those people will be. I’m really pleased for them and my responsibility is very much to them.
“At this stage of the season my feeling is we have to continue the way we are. We have to be respectful that this is our second Premier League season and the gap between ourselves and the bottom three will always be the most important thing.”
WEST HAM have announced the signing of former Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri until the end of the season.
The Frenchman, 31, has joined the Premier League club after spending time training with them.
Nasri, who last played for Antalyaspor in Turkey, was a free agent after serving a doping ban. Hammers manager Manuel Pellegrini said: “He is a player I know well from our time together at Manchester City and I am happy to be working with him again.”
Nasri, left, said: “You choose a club and a project because of the ambition and West Ham has everything to be one of the biggest clubs in London.”