Howe Dampens Rumour Speculation

According to media reports this week Burnley had apparantly expressed an interest in 22 year old Everton striker James Vaughan.

Vaughan has just returned to Goodison Park after spending four months on loan at struggling Championship club, Crystal Palace but Palace's financial plight ensures they would be unable to make a permanent offer for the player who is rated at about £2 million.

Celtic too are understood to be interested but Vaughan is thought to prefer staying in England.

When the link to Burnley first broke on Sky Sports, the inevitable thought was that any deal could involve Chris Eagles going in the opposite direction. Speculation had previously been rife that Everton were looking for a replacement for Steven Pienaar following his transfer to Spurs. Chris Eagles had widely been linked as a possible replacement.

The Sun recently claimed that Eagles could make the move to Goodison in a deal thought to be around £1.5million. Burnley though stated eralier this month on the Official site that they have not received any approach from Everton for the former Manchester United winger.

New Burnley manager Eddie Howe has since told Everton to forget about bidding for Chris Eagles and issued them with a 'hands-off' warning.

It would also appear that Burnley have additionally made no enquiry for Vaughan according to our new gaffer.

'We have been busy behind the scenes but I need to assess the squad first and see where we need to strengthen,' Howe said.

'What I don't want to do is make any rash decisions. I've got to make sure the players we bring in are the right ones. We are still in that phase where we are evaluating people.'

It would also appear therefore that speculation that we are interested in Swindon striker, Charlie Austin could also be wide of the mark.

The link intensified this week after it was rumoured the 21-year-old had handed in a transfer request. BBC Wiltshire understood that such a request had been put in.

The League One side confirmed that they had also received enquiries about Austin from several Championship clubs.Hull City and Millwall have already had bids for the former Poole Town forward turned down in the past six months.

Howe is however particularly believed to be impressed with Austin after the striker spent two months on loan at Bournemouth in the summer of 2009.

The Cherries were unable to sign him permanently due to their transfer embargo but Howe is on record as saying recently whilst at Dean Court:

'We were very keen to sign him and he would have added greatly to the young strikers we had at the time.'

The Daily Mail this week reported that Howe had offered £1.2million to sign Austin for the Clarets.

Just like Vaughan though, it is now debatable if Howe has made any approach for the player since becoming Burnley manager.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.