AMBITIOUS Burnley will make a shock £13million bid for Lyon’s speedy star Maxwel Cornet — but will need to beat off Hertha Berlin in the race.
Boss Sean Dyche wants extra pace and the Clarets are in talks with the French club to swoop for the Ivory Coast international.
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Cornet started as a winger but has been a left-back for the last season, with Burnley liking him for his ability to play both roles.
But big-spending Hertha are in the chase and could offer more than Burnley are willing to splurge — a major test for their new owners.
Leeds looked at Cornet, 24, before deciding against meeting Lyon’s asking price and are unlikely to return.
His pace and skill was attractive to boss Marcelo Bielsa, and the Yorkshire outfit are preparing for a squad shake-up.
SunSport previously revealed that Leeds placed SEVEN players on their end-of-season released list – including club legend Gaetano Berardi.
Cornet meanwhile will also have to come within Burnley’s salary budget.
Burnley are still in the hunt for Marc Albrighton, 31, but Leicester do not want to lose him and may offer a new deal to make him stay.
Albrighton – a key man in the Foxes side that won the Premier League in 2016 – struggled for game time last season.
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And Dyche believes he can lure the 31-year-old to Turf Moor because he has just 12 months left on his contract.
Dyche is keen to line up an extra wide player after failing to win the race for Ashley Young when he chose to return to Aston Villa instead.
The Clarets are set to sign former Rangers midfielder Ciaran Dickson, 18, though.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
