DEAL ME IN! Happy Dyche all set to extend his Clarets stay
BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche has revealed he is close to agreeing a new contract to extend his stay at Turf Moor.
Dyche, 50, has just one season left on his current deal and new owners ALK Capital Investment have made it clear that he is central to their long-term plans at Turf Moor.
The Clarets boss asked chairman
Alan Pace (right) for talks to be put on hold last season so he could concentrate on keeping Burnley in the Premier League.
But the paperwork is now in the hands of his lawyers – and he believes it is just a formality that he will pen a two-year extension.
Dyche, who has attracted interest from Everton, West Ham and Crystal Palace in recent years, said: “There’s no timetable but it’s with the lawyers and the people who go through the fine details.
“I know where we’re at and so does the club. It’s getting tidied up by the lawyers.
“If it gets signed, great, if it doesn’t get signed then it’s as you are.
“I have absolutely no immediate desire to not be here, but these things do take some time.
“Alan said he now wants things to happen – and they are happening now.
“It’s all very open. The timescale is down to me. I told the club that I wanted to focus on keeping the
team in the Premier League and that I wanted to push the contract until the summer.
“I didn’t want the noise. I didn’t want it to become a theme of the season. I wanted to park it until the summer – and that’s exactly what’s happened.”
ALK were expected to back Dyche in the summer transfer window but only two first-team signings have been made so far.
Nathan Collins joined from Stoke for in excess of £12million at the end of June while veteran Welsh goalkeeper
Wayne Hennessey arrived on a free transfer from Crystal Palace.
And there could be another new face through the door soon as the club lead the race to sign Celtic’s Ryan Christie.
But they face competition for the Scotland international (right) from Southampton, who need attacking reinforcements after selling Danny Ings.
And ex-Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers could also be interested in Christie if Leicester lose James Maddison this month.
The Celtic ace, who started
SPANISH side Cadiz beat Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor as the Clarets ended their pre-season on a negative note. Martin Calderon and Alex Fernandez scored past England goalkeeper Nick Pope as he made his return to action following surgery. The only other positive for boss Sean Dyche was that Chris Wood returned from his Olympic exploits with New Zealand.
Scotland’s Euro 2020 opener against Czech Republic in June, is looking for a new challenge after six years at Celtic Park and is keen to follow in the footsteps of several former team-mates and play in the Premier League.
Clarets chief Dyche has had the midfielder, 26, watched this season and could get him for a bargain £5m with his contract due to expire in the New Year.
Christie was on target for Celtic in their Europa League qualifier against Jablonec on Thursday.