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BURNLEY WANTED TO MAKE £8M ACE THEIR BEST-PAID PLAYER ON £50K-A-WEEK
Premier League newcomers Burnley were reportedly willing to make Belgium forward Dodi Lukebakio their highest earner on £50,000-a-week before the former Bundesliga ace opted for La Liga instead.
As Vincent Kompany’s toil towards the bottom of the table, Dodi Lukebakio has exploded out of the blocks like a pedigree stallion in his new Sevilla home. The £8 million signing from Hertha Berlin scored the winner on his debut against Las Palmas, and has taken his impressive club form onto the international stage.
Lukebakio netted a brace as Belgium defeated Austria 3-2 on Friday.
Burnley miss out on Dodi Lukebakio
According to Het Laaste Nieuws, Burnley were willing to offer the one-time Watford man a £50,000-a-week deal at Turf Moor. One which would have made the jet-heeled forward the best-paid player in Kompany’s squad (Spotrac).
Once Europa League holders Sevilla entered the discussion, however, Kompany had little choice but to give up the ghost as his compatriot boarded the first flight to Andalusia.
“Because (Sevilla) showed interest,” Lukebakio tells Marca, explaining why Burnley were pipped to the post for a deal that appeared almost done at one stage this summer.
“When a club like Sevilla shows interest, of course you have to listen. So we talk a lot. You don’t have to think so much because it is a top-level club and that is what I want, to play, to show myself, to improve as a young player.
“It was not difficult to choose Sevilla.”
Four goals in his last eight games
“When we spoke, I was watching a lot of videos on YouTube,” Lukebakio adds. “For example, when they won the last Europa League.
“In January, there was also interest and I have been following Sevilla. Not everything, but I know a lot of things about Sevilla. I watch a lot of football.”
Burnley have just one win so far, coming against fellow newcomers Luton Town. Kompany’s Clarets will be hopeful of adding to their measly points tally, however, with an out-of-sorts Brentford to come after the international break.
