Burnley Can Target These 3 Strikers If Andre Gray Leaves In The Summer
Burnley could lose their star striker Andre Gray in the summer transfer window to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur according to latest reports.
Spurs, who are currently seated 2nd in the league standings, are hoping to add more depth to their options at the top over the summer and see the 25-year old Gray as a viable option. The Englishman is the leading goal-scorer for the Clarets this term, with 8 goals from 26 league appearances and also has chalked up 2 assists to his name.
Tottenham have done well without Harry Kane when he has been out injured, but it has been Son Heung-min who has filled the gap and not Janssen. The summer signing Vincent Janssen has failed to make the step up to the English football. The Dutchman has just one goal in the Premier League and has struggled largely. So it makes sense for Tottenham to strengthen their striking department with the inclusion of Gray.
Considering that the Englishman will enter the final year of his contract at the end of the season, Burnley will be under pressure to sell him if an offer comes along. If it so happens that Gray does leave Turf Moor in the summer, here are 3 replacements for the departing Andre Gray.
Danny Ings
The former Burnley man hasn’t been able to continue his development after moving to Liverpool in the summer of 2015. He hasn’t been helped by several long-term injuries that have seen him struggle to get a string of games together.
In his first season with Liverpool last year, Ings made just 9 appearances in which he managed to score 3 times but saw his campaign cut short due to a cruciate ligament rupture. The 24-year old has made just 2 senior appearances this season for the Reds, in the EFL Cup with no goals or assists to show for.
It is hard to see him break into the Liverpool squad upon his return to fitness and with Jurgen Klopp looking to add more options to his roster, his future doesn’t look that bright. A return to familiar surroundings where the manager knows and trusts his abilities could prove to be the right catalyst for Ings to get his career back on track and the Clarets too will be thrilled to see one of their most promising players in recent years to return to the Turf Moor.
Charlie Austin
Another former Burnley striker, Austin’s season with Southampton too has been cut short abruptly due to a shoulder injury. But the 27-year old striker remains a quality option to have in the ranks and could prove to be a shrewd addition.
The Englishman had scored 9 times in 19 appearances across all competitions for the Saints this season before the injury hit him. Austin was with Burnley between 2011 and 2013 during which he scored 45 times from 90 games, before moving on to join Queens Park Rangers.
With Manolo Gabbiadini, Shane Long and Jay Rodriguez all ahead of him in the pecking order at this point of time, the 27-year old may think twice about his future at the St. Mary’s. Burnley would do well with someone of his stature at the top.
Oumar Niasse
The Everton striker was a forgotten man at the Goodison Park and was made to train with the reserves. But, has been scoring goals at will ever since he moved to Hull City on loan in January.
Niasse, since joining the Tigers in the winter window, has featured 11 times in the Premier League and has scored 4 times already. After being out in the cold for so long with the Toffees, the 26-year old has shown that he has what it takes to be a threat at the top at this level.
With his future at Everton non-existent and Hull City among the contenders to get relegated at the end of the season, Burnley should look to capitalize on his predicament and make a move for Niasse in the summer.
