BURNLEY COULD NOW SIGN PLAYER WHO CONFIRMS HE’S LEAVING BARCELONA
Premier League newcomers Burnley could offer Spain U21 goalkeeper Arnau Tenas a fresh start after he confirmed his impending departure from La Liga champions Barcelona.
Any goalkeeper in a Vincent Kompany team simply must be as comfortable with the ball at his feet as he is with it in his arms. Hence why the Clarets signed Aro Muric – player who honed his talents under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City – during Kompany’s first summer at the Turf Moor helm.
Hence why Burnley made a £12 million bid for Anderlecht’s stopper-slash-playmaker Bart Verbruggen before being pipped to the post by Brighton.
Arnau Tenas, meanwhile, possesses the kind of poise and composure you would expect from a man who learned all he knows from Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy. Tenas is a goalkeeper from the Victor Valdes school; a fine technician who loves nothing more than pinging pinpoint passes into the midfield.
Burnley could snatch a Barcelona talent
Tenas’ eye-catching distribution has been on full display at the U21 Euros this month – Spain cruising through the group-stages – with Sport reporting that Burnley are one of a number of clubs keeping a close eye on his performances over in Romania and Georgia.
Burnley, Sport says, are ‘very aware’ of Tenas’ situation. The Catalan-born 22-year-old confirmed earlier this week that he is likely to leave the Camp Nou when his contract expires on Saturday, though Barcelona have reportedly not given up hope yet of agreeing fresh terms.
“It is true (that I am leaving). I can confirm it,” Tenas told Barca Universal. “For now, I’m with the national team and I’m focused on that.”
Burnley are now ‘very likely’ to approach Tenas’ camp and enquire about whether he would like to start between the sticks for a Clarets side who cleared the 100-point barrier on route to the Championship title last season.
Royal Antwerp’s Jean Butez is another target, if Burnley go for a more experienced option between the sticks. The 28-year-old helped Antwerp win their first Jupiler League title since the 1950s, and the Belgian champions will not stand in his way should he wish to leave.
