Burnley Opinion: Why Craig Dawson would be a smart signing for Burnley?

According to a report from The Sun, Burnley are planning to make a record £15 million bid to sign West Brom centre-half Craig Dawson.

Clarets boss Sean Dyche is a long-term admirer of Craig Dawson and is now willing to splash the cash on him, hoping West Brom agree to sell their experienced defender.

West Brom missed out on promotion to the top-flight at the first time of asking following their play-offs semi-final loss to Midlands rivals, Aston Villa. They’ll be forced to cut costs after having to play in the Championship for second season running.

That should give Burnley a boost in their pursuit for Dawson, who will certainly fancy the chance to play in the Premier League again.

Burnley failed to live up to the expectations of their fans this term after a seventh-placed finish in the 2017/18 campaign. They flirted with relegation throughout the campaign but somehow managed to survive the drop. With the season now done and dusted, the summer transfer window gives Sean Dyche an opportunity to strengthen his squad.

Dyche needs to invest in the right areas over the summer to make his squad capable of challenging for a top-10 finish next term. While bolstering the forward department remains a priority, the Clarets boss must also pay heed to shore up his defence with some quality reinforcements.

Burnley, under Dyche, have always been a well-drilled, disciplined defensive outfit that is so difficult to breach for the opposition. That wasn’t the case this season, however, as the Lancashire-based outfit conceded 68 goals in the Premier League. While James Tarkowski and Ben Mee did well in central defence, Ben Gibson failed to justify his price-tag on his debut season at Turf Moor.

The Clarets are lacking a leader at the back, a player who is capable of taking responsibility and guiding the team through difficult situations. Thus, signing Craig Dawson is an absolute no-brainer.

Dawson’s ability to play at both right-back and centre-back will surely come handy at Burnley. The 29-year-old is strong in the air and is a massive threat from set-pieces, scoring three goals in the Championship this term. He is not only good in the air but also is excellent with his positioning which helps him snuff out any danger that comes in the box.

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Above all, the Rochdale-born defender’s top-flight experience would make him such a welcome addition for the Clarets. Dawson could also provide some much-needed cover in central defence for Dyche’s side.

Verdict

All in all, Burnley are right in considering Dawson, who is at the prime of his career and can offer 3-4 years of top-quality service.

As far as West Brom are concerned, they must surely accept an offer of £15 million for a player who turns 30 in 12 months’ time.