FROM CLARETS TO CHAMPAGNE
Kompany has gone from a relegation season with Burnley to being wanted by Euro giants Bayern Munich
HE managed just five Premier League wins as Burnley were relegated, yet Vincent Kompany is being eyed up by Bayern Munich.
Such facts appear wildly contradictory. But not to anyone who has seen the former Manchester City skipper work up close.
Burnley majority owner and chairman Alan Pace retains just as much faith in Kompany as he did when he appointed him two years ago, after the Belgian had cut his teeth in management with Anderlecht.
Pace never considered sacking his manager even though Burnley, rebuilt at a cost of £92million in the summer following their promotion to the Premier League, spent the entire season in the top flight’s bottom three.
His belief in Kompany only grew and the American is adamant he remains the right man to win a second promotion with the Clarets next season.
Other clubs have noted the work Kompany has done in transforming Burnley and he was eyed up by Brighton, even before they parted ways with Roberto De Zerbi on Saturday.
Bayern’s interest trumps Brighton and Pace and Burnley’s board could face a real fight to hang on to their boss if the German giants make an official approach.
So far they have not despite Kompany featuring on their hitlist to succeed Thomas Tuchel. They see much to like in Kompany, not least the leadership qualities he demonstrated at the Etihad and with Anderlecht.
He is front and centre and is the same inspiring presence he was as a player for City.
His fingerprints are all over everything at Burnley. He approves all signings, speaks to incoming players, is an excellent coach and their open style of play is down to him. Kompany was never going to ditch his principles to survive in the Premier League and Burnley never deviated from their possessionbased, passing game.
He made mistakes, Kompany knows that. But
Pace believes he has built a structure for Burnley to win back their Premier League place and thrive in the top flight.
Sean Dyche kept Burnley in the top flight for five seasons efore he was sacked, but he was never coveted like Kompany.
The Belgian has taken steps to reshape his squad for the Championship with Jack Cork and Johan Berg Gudmundsson released.
The out-of-contract Jay Rodriguez and Charlie Taylor have been offered new terms and the club is waiting to see if they will accept them, while the Clarets have triggered the one-year
extension to Josh Brownhill’s deal. Mike Tresor and Maxime Esteve’s loans from Genk and Montpellier respectively have been made permanent.
Burnley are in talks with Rennes about making Lorenz Assignon’s temporary move permanent and Hoffenheim about keeping Jacob Bruun Larsen, who finished as their top scorer with seven goals.
David Datro Fofana has gone back to Chelsea after his loan spell.
Connor Roberts, Anass Zaroury, Wout Weghorst, Michael Obafemi and Darko Churlinov all return to Turf Moor from loan spells.