While I was lying on the beach in the Canary Islands, Dave Thornley my old mucker who writes for Clarets Mad scripted his thoughts on the task of our recruitment team at Turf Moor.

It always follows, doesn?t it? After the celebration comes the hangover and sobering reality.
Personally, I was hoping to be able to bask in the glow of Burnley?s promotion for a little longer but the news which broke this week of CJ Egan-Riley?s imminent departure has been akin to being brought back down to reality by the sudden deployment of a bucket of cold water.

Egan-Riley was pivotal to the Clarets? success, strong, composed under pressure and possessing vision accompanied by an impressive range of passes. He will be hard to replace and makes the club?s summer recruitment job that much harder.
Along with, I imagine, most fans, I have opinions and suggestions as to how we would like to see that transfer window pan out and like all other fans, my opinions and suggestions will have no influence or traction. Burnley?s player recruitment policy is not my job, nor is it ever likely to be.

Nevertheless, for what it?s worth, here is what I think.

This time two years ago, I wrote a piece bullishly claiming that Vincent Kompany?s newly promoted Clarets had the ability to finish the following Premier League season comfortably mid-table.

As we all know, it didn?t quite pan out that way, not least because the team that slumped so miserably last season, bore insufficient resemblance to the one that won promotion in such style.

Young players were swept in from all parts of Europe, they were talented, but na?ve in the ways of the Premier League. Most have now gone and although James Trafford remained and not only repaired his reputation, but enhanced it, Luca Koleosho has become a peripheral figure, lacking the drive and confidence to make the most of his considerable ability.

Moreover, the club allowed impressive loan signings Tella, Maatsen and Harwood-Bellis to drift away and experienced club stalwarts such as Ashley Barnes, Jack Cork, Charlie Taylor and Conor Roberts were either shunted out or cast aside.
I bring all this up again in the fervent hope that these mistakes will not be repeated this time around. The nucleus of Scott Parker?s promoted squad (sadly minus Egan-Riley) needs to be kept together as much as possible and enhanced by a few ? no more than three or four - shrewd additions of players who know their way around the Premier League; have the desire to work hard and set the right example; perhaps have a point to prove and crucially, are not fazed by the prospect of a relegation struggle.

A consistent and proven Premier League goal-scorer is of course the holy grail. These players are rare, in demand and come with a price tag.

I recently watched a documentary about Liverpool?s Champions League win in 2019 and was reminded of the impact Divok Origi had on that campaign. A bit of research found that his career has subsequently stagnated in Italy; he is around thirty and maybe he has the desire to prove himself once more in the Premier League?

Christian Eriksen is a player I have long admired and has been released from Manchester United, there are doubts over his fitness and maybe his willingness to scrap it out at the bottom of the table, but perhaps he would be worth a punt?
As for a replacement for Egan-Riley, could Harwood-Bellis be tempted back? Or perhaps Michael Keane? How about Japhet Tanganga, a Premier League player currently playing in the Championship? Injuries curtailed his career at Spurs, but he has since been a model of consistency at Millwall, he is strong, aggressive and versatile enough to play either centre back or full back.

Just a few thoughts, none of which I anticipate the club will enact, but which give an indication into the line of thinking I believe the Burnley hierarchy should be following.

We all have our own thoughts and opinions but quite frankly Dave I would not touch Eriksen with a 12-foot barge pole. I?d much prefer us to be concentrating our efforts on keeping Josh Brownhill at Turf Moor for the foreseeable future.