For just around €10-15m, this 23-year-old Spanish ace would be a smart signing for Burnley

Why Marc Roca would be a good bargain signing for Burnley

According to Sport Witness (h/t Yorkshire Live), Burnley and Sheffield United are among the Premier League clubs understood to be monitoring Espanyol midfielder Marc Roca.

The 23-year-old has a daunting release clause of €40million in his contract that runs until 2022. However, Espanyol are prepared to entertain offers in the region of €10-15million for the central midfielder as they look to balance the books following their relegation from the La Liga last season. (Sport Witness h/t Yorkshire Live)

Profile

Marc Roca joined Espanyol’s youth setup back in 2008 at the tender age of 11 and rose through the ranks before making his debut for the reserves in 2014. He burst onto the scene in the La Liga during the 2016-17 season and has gradually established himself as a key component of the club’s midfield. 

The 23-year-old was one of the few shining lights of an otherwise disappointing campaign for Espanyol that eventually ended in relegation. Roca caught the eye with 2 goals and an assist in 35 league outings last season but hasn’t featured regularly in the second-tier this season so far. 

A former U-21 international for Spain, Roca has amassed 121 first-team appearances for Espanyol in all competitions, registering 3 goals and 6 assists in the process.

Roca would add more depth to Burnley’s midfield

Burnley have struggled to replenish their squad with new signings this summer, with goalkeeper Will Norris and Dale Stephens being the only players to come through the door at Turf Moor so far. Jeff Hendrick departed the Clarets on a free transfer at the end of last season, meaning the acquisition of Stephens represents a like-to-like replacement. 

To that end, though, Burnley still lack enough depth in several key areas of the pitch, and bringing in another central midfielder would definitely make sense. The Clarets currently have Ashley Westwood, Josh Brownhill, and Stephens competing for places in the middle of the park, with Jack Cork nursing an ankle injury.

Having just four senior options in central midfield might not be enough considering the long and hectic schedule of the Premier League coupled with the challenge of participating in the cup competitions. Moreover, it is worth noting that Cork (31), Stephens (31), and Westwood (30) are not getting any younger. 

Marc Roca fits the bill as a young and talented midfielder with plenty of potential. The 23-year-old still has his best years ahead of him and already has quite a lot of experience under his belt, having made over 100 appearances for Espanyol in the La Liga.

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Verdict

Hence it is clear from the above discussion that Burnley completing a deal for Marc Roca would serve them well, not only for the ongoing campaign but also for several years moving forward. The fact that a club of Bayern Munich’s stature have also shown an interest in the midfielder speaks volumes,

It’s hard to find good players at modest prices in the ever-inflating market these days and the Spaniard’s imminent availability for anything between €10-15million presents an excellent opportunity for cash-strapped Burnley to add some real quality to their squad before the deadline.