Burnley v Sheffield United - Carabao Cup - Second Round - Turf Moor Burnley s Matej Vydra celebrates scoring his side s first goal of the game during the Carabao Cup second round match at Turf Moor, Burnley. EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xPeterxPowellx 55556485
According to Lancs Live, Matej Vydra of Burnley has been linked with an exit from the club. A number of clubs from the Championship, Italy and Spain have been interested in the Czech international. Union Berlin were also said to be interested in him but there have been no talks regarding a concrete offer.
Burnley have a decent squad that can withstand the rigours of the Premier League. They deploy a classic 4-4-2 formation with the wide midfielders bombing in crosses to the two centre-forwards who play off each other. Their defence stays compact and midfield drops low when defending.
The club have Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood as their preferred pair of strikers to start games. Both of them are physical and well-built old school centre-forwards who can play with their backs to goal, bringing in the other forward into play. Both of them have done well to secure their places in the side pushing the likes of Jay Rodriguez and Matej Vydra out as backups.
Vydra’s spell at Turf Moor has hardly been spectacular, with the versatile forward only featuring sporadically for the Clarets over the past couple of seasons. However, the Czech international has occasionally caught the eye with some goals here and there, providing cover for the first-choice strike pairing of Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes.
The 28-year-old has fallen down the pecking order under Sean Dyche. He has featured in only 10 Premier League games and started just one. Despite Ashley Barnes’ injury last season, the likes of Chris Wood and Jay Rodriguez were preferred ahead of him.
It is clear Burnley have enough resources in the forward areas. Vydra is clearly a fringe player who has often been given just a cameo at the end of games to nick a goal. Yes, the Clarets’ forwards are ageing but they still have a lot to offer before Burley can think about replacing them or phasing them out.
Letting go of Vydra might not be the worst decision given they could receive some cash for him which they can reinvest in the squad, probably to get another forward.