BURNLEY turned down the chance to sign Sergio Reguilon – three days before he joined Manchester United on loan.
The Spanish full-back left Tottenham on deadline day after a season long loan was agreed with the Red Devils.
However days earlier he had been offered to Vincent Kompany’s men who were also on the look-out for a left-back at the time.
The Clarets could not make the numbers work and passed up the opportunity – only for him to end up down the M66 at Old Trafford a few days later.
Burnley’s chief operating officer Matt Williams said: “Left backs are a bit of a rarity. Look at Manchester United – one of the biggest clubs in world football.
“Luke Shaw goes down injured and they take a player from Tottenham who we’d been offered three or four days earlier.
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“It was a business decision that we didn’t sign him – salaries, loan fees etc.”
Kompany had been left searching for a left-back after Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen – who spent last season at Turf Moor – went cold on a permanent move.
A £31million fee had been agreed between the clubs but the Dutch youngster was given some encouragement at Stamford Bridge at the last minute.
Williams told BBC Lancashire: “We were in for Ian Maatsen, We were really keen at the start of the window,
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“Then he went on tour with Chelsea and did really well. But they came to us and said they’d be prepared to do a permanent deal – not a loan
“We had everything agreed but the player was training with the first team and the manager had said to him he had a bright future at Chelsea.
“So he thought he’d rather stay there and chance his arm at Chelsea. We totally respect that and Vincent understood it.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk