Burnley are reportedly among several clubs expressing an interest in signing Charlton striker Macauley Bonne in the transfer window.
The print edition of The Sun reported [via HITC] that the Clarets are joined by Fulham, Cardiff, Norwich and Derby in showing an interest in the 24-year-old Addicks centre-forward, who is rated at a very economical £1m by the southeast London club.
Bonne was unable to prevent Charlton from dropping out of the Championship last week but he played his part in trying to keep Lee Bowyer’s side in the second tier, scoring 11 times in the 2019/20 season. Three of those goals came in the Addicks’ last five games, by which stage former team-mate Lyle Taylor (who had also been a transfer target for Burnley) had left the club after refusing to extend his contract.
Were he to arrive at Turf Moor, he may need to be patient in awaiting his chance, given that the strike duo of Chris Wood and Jay Rodriguez netted 25 goals between them in the season just gone. Sean Dyche also has Ashley Barnes and Matej Vydra, scorers of a combined eight goals, to call upon as striking options.
Would Macauley Bonne be a good signing for Burnley?
Yes
No
However, the Clarets have had success with cut-price signings from Charlton in the past. Nick Pope cost just £1.17m back in 2016 and excelled this season with 15 Premier League clean sheets, just one short of Golden Glove winner Ederson (as per premierleague.com). The England international has kept 33 clean sheets in 83 appearances so far for Burnley.
His move from The Valley to Turf Moor coincided with that of Johann Berg Gudmundsson, for whom the Clarets paid just £2.7m and who has gone on to score seven goals and supply 19 assists in 111 appearances to date.
Even with Dyche having several potent centre-forwards at his disposal already, the possible £1m addition of Bonne, who was prolific despite Charlton’s relegation, would seem like a low-risk, high-reward deal for Burnley.
If he does end up at Turf Moor and makes anywhere near the impression that Pope and Gudmundsson have upon making a similar move four years ago, he would prove to be a superb acquisition by the Clarets. It’s one that they should certainly consider pursuing.
Burnley fans, could Bonne have the same effect as Pope and Gudmundsson if he comes to Turf Moor? Comment below with your views!
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