Vincent Kompany's dream Burnley line up with three Man City stars

Burnley could be unrecognisable when the first game of the new Championship season comes around.

The Clarets are back in the second tier after their six-year stay in the Premier League ended on the final day of last season. A lot has happened since then, with Vincent Kompany installed as manager and the playing squad having undergone a mini-makeover.

Key players have departed with goalkeeper Nick Pope leaving to sign for Newcastle and Everton confirming the arrival of James Tarkowski. Fellow centre-half Ben Mee also called time on his 11-year stay at Turf Moor although he has yet to land a new club. Other players to have left include experienced trio Phil Bardsley, Aaron Lennon and Dale Stephens - the latter who recently revealed he only found out about the club's decision via social media.

It has left Kompany with plenty of gaps to fill and he's already made four signings. He has called in a favour at his old club Manchester City, by signing CJ Egan-Riley on a permanent basis and Taylor Harwood-Bellis on a season-long loan. Oxford defender Luke McNally was also snapped up whilst Scott Twine is the marquee signing so far following his outstanding campaign last time out for MK Dons which saw him scoop the League One player of the year award.

There is still plenty of work to do for Kompany though, with at least one goalkeeper needed to fill the void left behind by Pope. Reports over the weekend suggesting Wayne Hennessey could be set to move to Nottingham Forest will only increase the need to bring in more custodian cover. Kompany is said to be keen on a deal for another former City teammate, forgotten man Aro Muric.

Now, the Clarets have been linked with a move for Derby County midfielder Jason Knight. Knight has been a consistent performer for the troubled Rams, who were relegated last season after a myriad of off-field issues. His stock is high and at 21 he would fit in with the recruitment policy employed so far by Burnley this summer, with the four aforementioned arrivals all aged 22 or under.

Another midfielder talked up for a move to Lancashire is Standard Liege's Samuel Bastien. The 25-year-old is known to Kompany after his two-year spell coaching Anderlecht. Bastien is in the last year of his contract in Belgium and reports from abroad claim the deal is on the right track. Those additions would certainly give Kompany's side a fresh look as they prepare for a gruelling campaign back in the second tier.

They begin away at last season's beaten play-off finalists Huddersfield Town in the EFL's 2022-23 curtain-raiser on Friday, July 29.

How Burnley could line up next season

GK : Aro Muric (Man City)

DEF : Connor Roberts, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Luke McNally, Charlie Taylor

MID : Scott Twine, Samuel Bastien (Standard Liege), Jack Cork, Jason Knight (Derby)

ATT : Jay Rodriguez, Ashley Barnes.