Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Dale Stephens is reportedly undergoing a medical ahead of a move to the Seagulls’ Premier League rivals Burnley.
The Athletic’s Brighton correspondent Andy Naylor tweeted the news earlier today.
Burnley Closing in on Dale Stephens Signing
Burnley Boss Has Been Interested in Stephens For Some Time
The Clarets have been long-time admirers of the midfielder and had a total of six offers turned down for the player in the summer of 2016. But with a mounting injury list, manager Sean Dyche appears to have reignited his interest in the player.
Ahead of his side’s Carabao Cup third-round clash with Millwall, Dyche remained coy on the subject of transfers, including Stephens.
Asked whether he was confident of bringing in some fresh faces for his squad, 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.”
A Blow for Brighton
Stephens appeared 33 times for the club in the league last season and was a key part of manager Graham Potter’s side in his first season at the helm of the south coast club.
But with his contract running out this summer, Brighton appear keen to recoup some of the transfer fee they paid to Charlton Atheltic from whom Stephens signed in 2014.
The fee is understood to be £1 million which could rise to £2.5 million with Stephens signing a two-year contract at the Clarets.
Brighton boss Potter refused to comment on speculation surrounding the transfer in his press conference ahead of his side’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Preston North End when he spoke to the Argus.
He said: “I haven’t heard anything. I’ve been out training this morning. He’s still our player. There’s a lot of speculation. Agents are mixing things around.
“At this time of year that is how it is. Nothing to say on that.”
If the deal is finalised Stephens will become Burnley’s first outfield signing of the transfer window and could make his debut in the Clarets’ first home game of the season on Saturday against Southampton.
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