EXCLUSIVE: Burnley closing in on deal to sign versatile 22-year-old striker

Burnley are closing in on a deal for SM Caen striker Andreas Hountondji, a report from The Athletic has said. Burnley are gearing up for a return to Championship football after a dismal one-year stay in the Premier League under Vincent Kompany’s lead.

Scott Parker is now at the helm after Kompany’s surprise move to Bayern Munich earlier this summer. The former Fulham and Bournemouth boss will be looking to win a third promotion from the Championship with the Clarets.

The summer window offers a chance for Parker to make the squad at Turf Moor his own and business has started to pick up for the relegated club. Now, it is reported that a new addition to the attacking ranks is moving closer.

The Athletic states that Burnley are closing in on the signing of striker Andreas Hountondji, who plies his trade in the French second-tier with SM Caen. The 22-year-old mainly operates through the middle but can also play out on the wing or in attacking midfield.

The move comes after Hountondji netted 16 goals and provided seven assists on loan with Rodez AF last season. He has a year left on his Caen deal but looks set to move on this summer.

Burnley have turned their attention to overseas markets more and more in recent seasons and it seems that pattern is continuing in the current transfer window.

Hountondji might not be a name fans are familiar with but his impressive 2023/24 campaign has put him on the radar. He moved to Rodez on loan in search of game time away from Caen and found the best form of his career to date. He had been prolific for Caen’s B team and enjoyed a decent stint with US Orleans in 2023 but senior minutes with his parent club have been at a premium.

As such, a sale likely favours them. They will land a fee for a player who hasn’t yet made an impact on their first-team and sees their deal expire next summer. It’s a logical sale as Burnley pounce for his signature.

Should Hountondji join Burnley, he will become the third new signing of the summer transfer window for Burnley and the second of Parker’s tenure at Turf Moor.

Shurandy Sambo had agreed to join from PSV Eindhoven under the previous management. Brazilian left-back Lucas Pires has joined from Santos, coming in to replace the departed Charlie Taylor.

Hountondji will make it three new additions for the Clarets but Parker and co certainly won’t be done there. He’ll be keen to make this squad his own while retaining key players who could inspire an immediate return to the Premier League.