Three Burnley FC players are expected to seek loan deals before August 30th. The club hopes to replicate their 2022/23 Championship triumph and return to the Premier League after a disappointing season.
Vincent Kompany’s move to Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich would most certainly result in a different type of football being played at Turf Moor next season, while the Belgian’s successor may choose to deploy different people than the former Manchester City defender.
However, these three young players will most likely seek a loan exit from the Clarets, as breaking into a promotion-chasing squad is difficult.
Han-Noah Massengo
French midfielder Han-Noah Massengo joined the Clarets on a four-year contract last summer after four seasons with fellow Championship club Bristol City, but he only appeared four times in all competitions for the Lancashire club last season.
Massengo is an undeniably good player, as evidenced by the fact that he made over 100 games for the Robins and competed in the Champions League with former club Monaco at a young age.
But, after only three Premier League appearances for the Clarets last season, the 22-year-old will undoubtedly seek a loan move away from Turf Moor in pursuit of regular first-team football.
Despite the club’s relegation, Massengo may still struggle to break into Burnley’s midfield due to competition from Josh Brownhill and Josh Cullen, thus a loan move could benefit his career and allow him to return to Turf Moor as a better player.
Dara Costelloe
Dara Costelloe joined the Clarets from Galway United in the Irish Premier Division in February 2021, but he has only made six professional appearances for the Turf Moor club since then, having had three loan spells away from Lancashire.
The 21-year-old spent the second part of the Clarets’ championship-winning 2022/23 season on loan at League Two club Bradford City, where he appeared 11 times and scored one goal.
The young Irishman spent last season on loan in the Scottish Premiership with St Johnstone and Dundee, but the fact that he scored only two goals in 28 league appearances north of the border suggests that another loan move could be beneficial to both parties.
Enock Agyei
Teenage attacker Enock Agyei joined the Clarets from Belgian giants Anderlecht in January 2023, but he is yet to make his senior debut for the Lancashire club.
In truth, the 19-year-old has never played first-team football for his former club, instead playing for RSCA Futures, Anderlecht’s junior team that competes in Belgium’s Challenger Pro League, the country’s equivalent of the Premier League 2.
Agyei is a promising kid who has represented his country at under international level, but his only senior experience came during a 2022/23 loan spell with KV Mechelen.
Agyei’s previous record suggests he is not yet ready to compete in the Championship, therefore another loan move could be the best option for a striker under contract at Turf Moor until 2027.
