2021/22 Premier League Preview – Burnley

03/08/21 1979

Burnley are preparing for their sixth successive top-flight campaign under the watch of Sean Dyche. Following a terrible end to the previous campaign, the Clarets must hit the ground running in 2021/22.

• Manager: Sean Dyche

• Stadium: Turf Moor

• Last Season: 17th

Despite operating on a shoe-string budget, Burnley have been able to remain in the Premier League since 2016.

The Lancashire club has finished as high as seventh during the period but ended up all the way down in seventeenth place last term.

• What Happened Last Season?

Burnley endured an inconsistent 2020/21 campaign, winning just ten of their 38 league games to finish one place above the drop zone.

They tailed off significantly towards the end of the season, losing seven of their final nine matches while failing to find the back of the net in their last three.

Chris Wood netted 12 goals in 37 appearances, but the his nearest challenger – Matej Vydra – could only manage six goals.

Players In

• Nathan Collins – Stoke City (£12.60m)
• Jacob Bedeau – Scunthorpe United (Free)
• Wayne Hennessey – Crystal Palace (Free)

It goes without saying that Burnley fans won’t be too excited by the club’s summer transfer business so far.

The Clarets have signed up-and-coming centre-back Nathan Colin from Stoke, but the free transfers of Jacob Bedeau and Wayne Hennessey are nothing to write home about.

Players Out

• Ben Gibson – Norwich City (£8.37m)
• Jimmy Dunne – Queens Park Rangers (Free)
• Josh Benson – Barnsley (Free)
• Lukas Jensen – Carlisle United (Loan)
• Bailey Peacock-Farrell – Sheffield Wednesday (Loan)
• Robbie Brady – Released

Robbie Brady has been released by the club following four years at Turf Moor, while young goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell has been loaned to Sheff Wed to gain first-team experience.

Having spent last season on loan at Carrow Road, Ben Gibson has now joined Norwich on a permanent basis.

• Burnley’s Key Player

James Tarkowski – Consistently linked with a move to a top Premier League club, Tarkowski is a rock in the heart of Burnley’s backline.

The 28-year-old has forged a formable centre-back partnership alongside Ben Mee, offering first-class protection to Nick Pope between the sticks.

• What Can Burnley Achieve in 2021/22?

Before the start of every Premier League season, it is difficult to predict exactly how Burnley will fare, especially when you consider the lack of investment from the owners.

Since returning to the top-flight, the Clarets have finished fifteenth or lower in three of the past five campaigns. Another mid-table finish is on the cards this time around.