Burnley are reportedly prepared to spend £15m on the signing of Marseille midfielder Pape Gueye during the upcoming January transfer window.
The 24-year-old is currently out of favour with Les Olympiens manager Gennaro Gattuso and has therefore featured just three times in Ligue 1 so far in 2023-24.
Gueye had an extremely-brief spell at Watford during the summer of 2020 after leaving Le Havre, however the midfielder was immediately transferred away from Vicarage Road without playing a match due to disagreements over his terms at the club.
Having represented Senegal on 17 occasions since making his debut in November 2021, the former Sevilla loanee would bring a considerable amount of international pedigree to Turf Moor.
According to The Sun, Burnley have identified Gueye as a player who could help the Clarets avoid an immediate return to the Championship in the second half of the season.
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The report claims that Vincent Kompany's scouts have been to watch the midfielder and were impressed by his peformances in a Marseille shirt, so a New Year switch could be on the cards.
Les Olympiens are said to be open to offloading Gueye during the January transfer window, as the 24-year-old does not form a major part of Gattuso's first-team thinking.
The Ligue 1 club are understood to be wanting to pocket £15m from the sale of the ex-Le Havre man, who has featured in just 24 minutes of league football this campaign.
After a sobering 2-0 defeat to Everton on Saturday evening, Burnley remain 19th in the Premier League standings, six points away from Nottingham Forest in 17th.
A midfield pairing of Sander Berge and captain Josh Brownhill has been a regular fixture for Kompany in recent matches, with the likes of Josh Cullen having to settle for a spot on the bench.
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Engine-room playmaker Brownhill is set to be subject of interest from a number of top-flight sides in January, with Wolverhampton Wanderers reportedly lining up a bid for the 27-year-old.
The former Bristol City man is entering the final six months of his current deal at Turf Moor, however the Clarets crucially hold the option to extend the agreement by a further year.
Burnley currently have a couple of midfield options out of action due to injuries, including veteran Jack Cork and summer arrival Aaron Ramsey, who can also operate as a winger.
The Clarets' final game before Christmas Day is a difficult-looking trip to Craven Cottage, where Fulham have won back-to-back matches by 5-0 scorelines since the turn of the month.
Carter White
