Why Burnley should extend the contract of Jeff Hendrick amid AC Milan interest
According to a report from Sky Sports, AC Milan are interested in signing Burnley midfielder Jeff Hendrick, who will be out of contract with the Clarets this summer.
The 28-year-old started out at the St. Kevin Boys academy in Ireland, before joining Derby County youth setup in 2008. Having broken into the first-team, Hendrick went on to make 215 appearances for the Rams, scoring 26 goals and assisting 19 more.
Burnley signed the Irish midfielder in the summer of 2016 for a then club-record fee of £10.5m. A mainstay under Sean Dyche, Hendrick has racked up 139 appearances for the Clarets, bagging 10 goals and 7 assists in the process.
Burnley need to keep their core group of players together amidst financial crisis
For the Clarets to kick on and perform better in the upcoming campaigns, it is important for the club to strengthen their squad. However, that might not be possible this summer with Burnley being one of the financially worst-hit clubs due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In such a situation, it becomes critical for the club to hold on to the current crop of players, especially those who have been regulars in the starting XI. And Hendrick is one such star that they should do everything to retain at the club.
The fact that Hendrick has missed fewer than 20 Premier League games in almost four years at Burnley indicates how important a figure he is in Dyche’s squad. In the ongoing campaign, he has featured 27 times across all competitions, scoring three goals and setting up two more.
What makes him such a key player is the versatility that he brings to the table. Hendrick, during his time at Burnley, has been used in his natural position in the middle of the park, while he has also featured as a secondary striker on numerous occasions. For the majority of the 2019/20 season, the 28-year-old has been played on the right flank.
This sort of versatility, coupled with his experience, is critical for Burnley if they are to improve their fortunes in the coming seasons. In addition, at 28, Hendrick is in his peak years. And the club must ensure that they make the most of it by extending his contract.
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Verdict
Hendrick is a pivotal part of Sean Dyche’s setup at Burnley. The 28-year-old is vastly experienced and his versatile nature provides depth in multiple positions. Hence, it is imperative that the Clarets extend his contract amidst interest from AC Milan.
