Michael Reeves
The name of Ashley Barnes was high on people’s lips as the shambolic window that was January came to a close but Vincent Kompany has admitted that they never entertained discussions as to his departure from Turf Moor.
Whilst they were taking Michael Obafemi from Swansea on loan with an option to buy the name of Barnes was linked with making the opposite journey to South Wales. As speculation increased there was links also with Harry Cornick and right at the last stages Karlan Grant but none of them ever materialised but Kompany added reasons for that when he was asked about the future of Barnes this week.
With his Burnley side set for an immediate return to the Premier League – they are seventeen points clear of the play-off places – he had this to say when asked about his player. “We didn’t even entertain discussions in January. It was the assumption of a lot of people but we never entertained discussions.
“The main thing for me is he has been terrific for us, has done extremely well and the only thing we have to look at is making sure it (contract discussions) fits, there is no point doing anything rushed because at the end of the day it has to be right for everyone. Ash has been doing extremely well, we want to make sure whatever he is doing for us he keeps doing it and then we will have a conversation with him no doubt.
“I think Ash will get game time, I think Jay will get game time and the new guys will get game time when they are ready. We will review the discussions when the time is right.”
