Why Burnley have struck gold with new deals for Jay Rodriguez and Vydra
According to the Lancashire Telegraph, Burnley strike duo Jay Rodriguez and Matej Vydra have both put pen to paper on new contracts to extend their stay at Turf Moor until the end of the 2021-22 season.
Rodriguez’s previous deal at Burnley had been due to expire in 2021, having initially signed a two-year contract upon his return to his hometown club from West Brom last summer. Vydra, meanwhile, had also been nearing the end of the three-year deal that he signed while joining the Clarets from Derby County back in the summer of 2018.
Profiles
A youth exponent of Burnley, Jay Rodriguez made his senior debut for the club back in 2007 and went on to score 41 goals in 128 appearances before earning a move to the Premier League with Southampton in 2012. He made a bright start to life in the top-flight for the Saints, scoring 26 goals in all competitions during his first two seasons at St. Mary’s.
Rodriguez, though, had his progress thwarted by a succession of injuries and eventually found himself down the pecking order towards the latter stages of his career at Southampton. A move to West Brom in 2017 helped him rejuvenate his career and Rodriguez completed a full circle in his career by rejoining Burnley in 2019, having featured for the Baggies in the Premier League and the Championship.
Vydra had his first taste of English football on loan at Watford in the Championship during the 2012-13 season. He joined the Hornets permanently and spent time on loan at Reading before going on to win the Golden Boot in the second-tier following his move to Derby County.
Vydra’s impressive returns prompted Burnley to fork out £11million for his services in 2018 but the Czech Republic international hasn’t really made a massive impact. The 28-year-old has managed a meagre tally of 6 goals in 47 appearances so far, playing only a bit-part role for the Clarets over the past two seasons.
A step in the right direction for Burnley
Rodriguez was instrumental as Burnley romped home to a top-ten finish in the Premier League last term for only the second time in their history. The 31-year-old bagged 11 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions and has continued to be a key squad player under Sean Dyche this season as well.
Vydra’s spell at Turf Moor has hardly been spectacular, with the versatile forward only featuring sporadically for the Clarets over the past couple of seasons. However, the Czech international has occasionally caught the eye with some valuable goals, providing quality cover for the first-choice strike pairing of Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes.
Barnes and Wood both signed long-term contracts in Lancashire last season while the likes of Ashley Westwood and Ben Mee have also committed their futures to the club. To that end, new deals for Jay Rodriguez and Matej Vydra represent a continuation of the same policy as Burnley continue to work on extending the stay of some of their key players.
Read More
- Why Sheffield United signing Jay Rodriguez would bolster their attack
- Why Richard Nartey would be a good long-term signing for Burnley
Verdict
Burnley definitely need to add to their rather stagnant squad in January after failing to make much of an impression in the summer window. But it’s also important for them to keep hold of their mainstays to consolidate on their top-flight status. With that in mind, it’s a no-brainer that new deals for Jay Rodriguez and Matej Vydra sound like an excellent piece of business for the Clarets.
