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Burnley improving their £8m offer for this promising Boro prospect would be a worthy investment for the future

Why Burnley should make another move to sign Dael Fry

According to a report from the Northern Echo, Championship club Middlesbrough have rejected Burnley’s £8m offer for defender Dael Fry.

Dael Fry, 21, is regarded as one of the most promising young English defenders in either of the top two divisions, having made his senior Middlesbrough debut as a 17-year-old in 2015. He made 34 appearances in the Championship for Middlesbrough last season but couldn’t guide his club to the play-offs.

The 21-year-old missed out on Boro’s opening game of the season against Luton Town on Friday night with a hamstring injury he picked up last season. Highly rated, the Clarets are keen to hand Fry the opportunity to play Premier League football.

The ball is now in Burnley’s court over coming back with a fresh offer for the 21-year-old defender if they want to try again to lure him away to Turf Moor.

Burnley’s interest in Fry is likely to be related to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding James Tarkowski. As per the Sun, Tarkowski is on Leicester City’s shortlist to replace Harry Maguire, who completed a big-money move to Manchester United on Monday.

No bids have been submitted for the England international but it is understood he fits the bill in terms of what Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers is looking for.

Tarkowski has a contract at Turf Moor until 2022, and while Sean Dyche is reluctant to sell one of his prized assets, the Clarets will have to give up on their defender if Leicester triggers the centre-back’s £50m release clause.

Should Burnley end up selling the Manchester-born defender to the Foxes, Dyche must make use of the funds received through his sale for investing on the highly-rated Dael Fry.

Fry has impressed at Boro in the last couple of seasons in the Championship. Standing at 6ft 4in, the England Under-21 international is a very strong defender, aerially excellent and can also play out from the back.

His athleticism and aerial ability make him a real asset in both ends of the pitch. Those qualities, combined with the fact he is only 21, means he would be exactly the sort of player Sean Dyche wants.

Verdict

Woodgate needs to make Fry one of the cornerstones of his back four this season and must try everything to retain him for the next campaign. Boro, having already sold Aden Flint to Cardiff City this summer, are rightly reluctant to let another defender go before the window closes on Thursday.

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However, Burnley should table such an offer that tempts Boro into selling Fry.