Sean Dyche makes 'awkward' transfer admission amid Dale Stephens link

Sean Dyche has said there are “a couple of maybes” in terms of potential new signings for Burnley, while once again stressing the club’s “difficult task” in transfer windows.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche is a long term admirer of Brighton's Dale StephensBurnley boss Sean Dyche is a long term admirer of Brighton's Dale Stephens
Burnley boss Sean Dyche is a long term admirer of Brighton's Dale Stephens

With the current window set to close on October 5, the Clarets have still only made one senior signing since the end of last season, the capture of goalkeeper Will Norris from Wolves.

They have been linked with Brighton’s Dale Stephens and, when asked about the midfielder ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup trip to Millwall, Dyche said: “We always get names thrown at us – that’s not a problem.

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“There is a couple of things that are maybes, but not like where it’s on the cusp. But I’m still not sure of the guidelines from the chairman and the board, so I’m waiting on that and what they want to do.

“It’s always a challenge here. Once I get that (answer to) ‘can we get these things done?’, that’s helpful of course, so we’re still waiting on that.”

He added: “The truth is the truth, it’s been there a long time here – it’s always a difficult task, every window has been a massive, massive challenge here, and it continues to be that.

“It’s not new ground for me, it’s just always awkward and it’s tough. Couple of weeks, we’ll see what happens, but it’s very rare we’ve been first in to get players.

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“It’s the way the club operates, the way the chairman and the board want it to operate. We have to be patient, keep our eyes and ears open and our ears to the ground on the market, and hope we can get the players in that we think can affect us.”

When asked if he was confident things were progressing in the right direction as deadline day got closer, Dyche said: “No, I’m never truly confident.

“I don’t think I’m truly confident until I can see a player in an office, signing a form. It can be tricky. I’m never overly confident until the moment of truth when that player arrives in this building.”

The likes of Jeff Hendrick, Aaron Lennon and Joe Hart left Burnley prior to the end of last season as their contracts expired, and Dyche currently has a number of players unavailable due to injury.