Taking Stock Despite Last Day Loan Failure?

Well the loan window closed on Thursday and there was no new signings made by Eddie Howe much to the disappointment of Burnley fans.

All Clarets fans are eager for some positive news after a depressing season so far with Burnley at the wrong end of the table and the dropzone beckoning.

Most fans had been half expecting at least some movement after Jason Tindall had hinted they may have to move back into the loan market to find another striker after signing Sam Vokes on loan from Wolves last Friday only to then lose Charlie Austin to a dislocated shoulder. In the end, nothing happened on that score and indeed they even weakened their attack options after letting Wes Fletcher go out on loan to Crewe until the 15th January.

Clarets fans though have also been crying out for Howe to bring in some new defenders so many will again have been disappointed and frustrated to see that the manager appears to have once more drawn a blank in his attempt to boost our back four options. Indeed, rather worryingly we have not even been linked with any defenders recently in the media.

There was only one little bit of rumour mongering on Twitter and Burnley forums yesterday, and that involved a midfielder. There were strong rumours that we had an interest in Doncaster Rovers midfielder, Brian Stock with a view to taking him on loan and then offering him a permanent deal when the January transfer window opens.

The 29 year old Welsh international of course started his career with Bournemouth and would have played with Eddie Howe. He moved to Preston North End initially on loan in January 2006 before signing a permanent deal. Stock then signed for Doncaster Rovers in January 2007 for a transfer fee of £150,000 and has since made over 150 appearances for the club. His contract expires this year.

Well if we did have any interest, the loan deal never materialised so we shall have to see if there any developments in the January window.

The only other player we were linked with was Cliftonville striker Rory Donnelly. According to the Daily Mail, Burnley hope to agree a £100,000 deal to sign the player in January. Premier League scouts have also watched the 19-year-old but Burnley are said to have moved quickly with an official approach. Cliftonville is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership.

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