BURNLEY FAILED WITH THREE BIDS FOR A MIDFIELDER KOMPANY LOVES LAST WEEK

BURNLEY FAILED WITH THREE BIDS FOR A MIDFIELDER KOMPANY LOVES LAST WEEK

Premier League newcomers Burnley had three bids rejected for Kristian Malt Arnstad in the final week of the window as Anderlecht blocked a reunion with Vincent Kompany at Turf Moor.

It is not exactly uncommon for managers to reunite with players they know and trust after taking over a new club. See Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Andre Onana under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko joining forces with Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.

Vincent Kompany, meanwhile, stormed to the Championship title alongside his former Anderlecht favourites Josh Cullen and Taylor Harwood-Bellis in 2022/23, Burnley then returning to a familiar hunting ground to bring in Hannes Delcroix in August.

But Burnley’s interest in teenage midfielder Kristian Malt Arnstad was where Anderlecht drew the line and said ‘enough is enough’.

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany loves Kristian Malt Arnstad
According to TV2, the Clarets made three bids for Arnstad in the final week of the window. Including one in the region of £4.5 million.

Anderlecht’s current head coach made it clear at his Friday press conference, however, that Kompany’s pursuit of the Norway U21 international was not going to end the same way as his pursuit of Cullen and Delcroix.

“Kristian will stay with us this season,” Brian Riemer said bullishly.

 

His determination to hang onto the all-action 19-year-old comes as no surprise, when you consider that Arnstad played over 40 games in all competitions for Anderlecht in 2022/23. An aggressive, tough-tackling enforcer who can also fill in at the back if required, Arnstad accumulated no fewer than 10 yellow cards during his breakthrough campaign; what he lacks in experience he makes up for in exuberance.

 

“Kristian is a very stable kid,” Kompany said of Arnstad at the end of his time in the Anderlecht dugout. “He has had a logical evolution for a few years.”

 

Ironically, Kompany even went as far as to explain why Arnstand may be better off staying put, rather than embarking upon a fresh start in England.

“Anderlecht is one of the best clubs to develop as a young player. We have seen it often enough; those who leave too early have problems,” the Manchester City legend added.

 

“And I also want to point out a big difference before the past. (Young players) can now reach the absolute top by playing a few years in Anderlecht. Take recently Sambi Lokonga and Alexis Saelemaekers, who play for Arsenal and AC Milan.”