This 29-year-old Bundesliga goal machine would be the ideal No. 9 to solve Burnley’s crisis in the final third
After a successful season under Sean Dyche last term in the Premier League which saw Burnley finish 7th in the standings and claim a Europa League playoff spot, the Clarets have failed to live up to the expectations this season.
Burnley’s return to European football after a long absence of 51 years did not last long. The Clarets were ever so close to securing a spot in the group stages of the Europa League but were knocked out by Olympiacos in the playoffs.
Their lacklustre performances in the first few games of the Premier League could have been attributed to their European adventures but Sean Dyche must be a worried man given that his team hasn’t been able to deliver the goods twelve games into the season.
Burnley have lost 8 of their 13 games in the Premier League and sit 17th in the standings with 9 points. In other words, Burnley are far from the gutsy and resilient outfit that made eyeballs turn with their consistent displays last season.
Solidity at the back was the key to Burnley’s successful campaign last time around but they have been anything but solid this season. In fact, Burnley have one of the worst defensive records in the Premier League, having conceded 27 goals with a dismal goal difference of -14.
Quite clearly, Burnley have been found wanting in all departments of the game this season. If the first 13 games are anything to go by, things do not look too good for the Clarets and the onus will be on Dyche to save the club from relegation this season.
And that is exactly the reason why Burnley need to freshen up the squad in January with some new faces. The Clarets are in dire need of a proper No.9 to spearhead the attack as the likes of Sam Vokes, Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood have all been well below par this season. Matej Vydra was signed in the summer to add substance to the attack but the manager has been reluctant to use him for some unknown reason.
With 2 goals and 4 assists, Iceland international Johann Berg Gudmundsson has been the brightest spark for Burnley in their otherwise lacklustre campaign so far. And Dyche can certainly add that cutting edge to his attack by pursuing an interest in Gudmundsson’s international teammate Alfred Finnbogason.
Alfred Finbogason, 29, currently plies his trade with Augsburg in the German Bundesliga and has been in prime form this season, scoring 7 goals from 6 appearances in the German top-flight.
The Iceland international, who was a part of his nation’s squad for Euro 2016 and scored the equalizer against Argentina at the World Cup in Russia, has the experience of playing top flight football in Sweden, Iceland, Netherlands, Spain and Germany.
The 29-year-old has taken his game to a new level since he joined Augsburg back in 2016, spearheading his team’s attack and finding the net consistently in the Bundesliga.
Finnbogason scored 12 goals and provided 3 assists in the last season and has continued his fine run of form this term as well. However, if there is anything that embodies his achievement as a centre-forward, it has to be the record-breaking 2013-14 campaign in the Eredivisie where he scored 29 goals for SC Heerenveen.
Blessed with the perfect instincts of a centre-forward, Finnbogason tends to anticipate quicker than his defensive counterparts to get to the ball first. He has the knack of being at the right place and at the right time, which makes him a threat from crosses, corners and set-pieces.
Renowned for being an opportunistic striker inside the penalty area, the 29-year-old is a sort of a ‘fox in the box’ kind of a centre-forward who uses his awareness and instincts to make runs behind the backline.
He has a decent turn of pace and is not a one-dimensional striker by any means, drifting to the wide areas and using his dribbling skills to cut inside. Furthermore, he is a striker who has a deadly eye for goal and excels with his finishing.
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That said, Burnley should start keeping close tabs on the Icelandic international as he has all the qualities to help them climb higher up the standings. Given that he has been in great form in recent seasons, Augsburg are likely to demand a handsome price for their prized asset but Burnley need to cough it up if they are to avoid relegation this season.
