BURNLEY are ready to test the water with a bid for Sunderland’s midfield dynamo Dan Neil.
Clarets’ chief scout Martin Hodge watched the 20-year-old in action at Arsenal in the League Cup and the home-grown youngster impressed.
The Turf Moor outfit’s American owners are willing to invest in some rising stars with future value and Neil is in their sights as an ideal target.
League One Black Cats may sell if the price is right and Burnley have done rigorous background tests in the last few days ahead of an opening offer.
Burnley may try their luck at around £3million for the England Under-20 cap — and possibly even do a deal to buy him and return him to Wearside on loan for the promotion campaign.
Meanwhile Thomas Frank’s Brentford could go to £14million in their bid to land Nottingham Forest wideman Brennan Johnson.
However that might still not be enough to do a deal.
The Bees have been buzzing round Johnson, 20, for months.
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His form has tempted the Prem new boys to reignite their interest and come up with a better offer.
Arsenal, Tottenham and newly-rich Newcastle have all been linked with the Wales international.
But Forest are keen to get promotion this season from the Championship.
They are happy to risk it even if it means Johnson running down his contract and entering the final year.
And sources close to the deal also reveal Johnson would rather wait to see if an even bigger team came in for him amid reported interest from Arsenal and Tottenham.
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