Burnley

Simon Stone, BBC Sport

Manchester United were beaten in a closed doors match by Burnley at Carrington on Wednesday.

Scott McTominay, Anthony Martial, Donny van de Beek and Jonny Evans were all involved for United against a strong Burnley side, who didn't have a game last weekend after their trip to Luton was called off as upgrading work at Kenilworth Road is still being completed.

Given United's difficulties in front of goal this season, it will be interesting to see if Martial gets a starting spot against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The Guardian's Jamie Jackson tells the Transfer Gossip Daily podcast that Manchester United are not keen for Spanish defender Alvaro Fernandez to leave on a permanent deal as Burnley and Granada step up their interest in the 20-year-old.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Burnley and Granada are both keen on a deal to sign Manchester United's 20-year-old Spanish defender Alvaro Fernandez. (Mirror, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Aaron Ramsey said he "can't wait to get started" after becoming Burnley's 11th signing of the summer.

The 20-year-old midfielder arrives from Aston Villa on a five-year-deal for a fee in excess of £12m.

On joining the Clarets, Ramsey said: "I’m absolutely buzzing. I have been waiting to be a Burnley player for a while now and I’m really happy it’s all officially done now.

"I can’t wait to get started.

"I can’t wipe my smile off my face. When you come to a new club you want the lads to welcome you in and everyone here has done that straight away.

"It’s been really easy to settle, everyone has been amazing."

Image source, Getty Images

Centre back Hannes Delcroix said it was an easy decision to sign for Burnley once he knew the club were interested in him.

The 24-year-old is the Clarets' 10th summer signing and arrives from Anderlecht on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

After putting pen to paper, he told the club website: "I heard I think on Monday or Tuesday last week that Burnley was interested in me.

"It went really quick. I had a phone call with Vinny and Saturday I was already on the plane. So, it went very quick. It was a very busy few days, but I am happy to be here now.

"It’s a different competition, the Premier League. Everybody knows it. It’s the best competition in the world at the moment. For me, it’s a big opportunity to come here and it’s a great team. It was not difficult to come here when I got the option."

Delcroix was born in Haiti but moved to Belgium aged two. He joined Anderlecht's academy in 2013, before making his senior debut in 2018.

He has represented Belgium at all youth levels and has made one senior appearance for the Red Devils.

Natalie Bromley, No Nay Never podcast, external

Here's what the script initially said:

"Open your campaign at home to the treble winners, then meet the Premier League's newest debutants in their first Premier League game at Kenilworth Road".

But, as we all know by now, football rarely follows scripts.

Luton were unable to give the Premier League sufficient assurances that the improvements required to meet minimum standards for media and broadcasting would be completed in time for Burnley's visit. Offered options to either swap the fixture or postpone, Kompany opted to postpone.

Luton faced criticism and sneers, calls to forfeit the game and the points, but surely this just highlights the fairytale of the English football pyramid? If grounds like Kenilworth Road can't cling to the dream of hosting top flight football, even if it means some concessions in terms of timescales, then we might as well concede to the Super League right now.

And I can't help but feel that this arrangement has benefitted Burnley a lot more than it has Luton. Call me an old romantic, but I wasn't relishing being Kenilworth Road's first ever Premier League opposition - they were nailed on to win that one!

Luton fans may have wanted a big name to kick off their home campaign - I remember celebrating Robbie Blake's winner against Manchester United the first time Turf Moor hosted a Premier League game - but their heads should want a winnable game. And we may well have been just that side.

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley midfielder Josh Cullen has signed a three-year contract extension after reuniting with his former Anderlecht manager Vincent Kompany last summer.

The 27-year-old played 50 games during the Championship title-winning campaign, scooping up two club awards at the end of his first season in Lancashire.

Cullen said: "I’m really happy to extend my time here, especially off the back of last year which was a really successful year for the club. I can’t wait to continue my career with Burnley.

"It will be great to get back to Turf Moor this weekend and be in front of the fans again and hopefully get our first three points on the board."

The Republic of Ireland international becomes the third player to sign a new long-term deal this summer, after team-mates Anass Zaroury and Manuel Benson.

• Get Burnley news and analysis direct to your device

Natalie Bromley, No Nay Never podcast, external

Friday night's opener against Manchester City went exactly as we thought it would but I am not sure I have left any of our previous City defeats feeling, well, so positive.

The style and DNA of Vincent Kompany's Championship-winning team had carried over to the Premier League. We looked to drive the ball forward and create chances where we could. We didn't just roll over, even at 3-0 down.

Kompany has a champion's mentality and he curates environments where his players can perform at that level.

And the cherry was the performance of Lyle Foster, who struggled to make his mark last season, but has worked tirelessly with Craig Bellamy to improve his movement and mental health. I am excited to see what he can deliver this campaign. He even looks completely different. Is he perhaps an imposter?

However, the game was ultimately marred by trouble with supporters. For all the work the club has done to improve our image, to make progress away from the grimmer days of our past, a selection of our fanbase reinforced the tired stereotype before we even kicked a ball.

This isn't just a Burnley problem, it is one for society, but we were the ones in the spotlight.

I struggle to comprehend deliberately objecting to a display of unity and support and my heart broke for Kompany; imagine having to answer questions on the behaviour after your first ever game as a Premier League manager. I am angry.

Football means a lot to you. Your club means a lot to you. I get that. It makes you passionate. So how about you funnel that passion into supporting a cause that means so much to your manager and large selection of your players?

• Get Burnley news and fan views direct to your device

We asked for your views on Friday's game between Burnley and Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Burnley fans

Paul: Considering how many new players were in the team Burnley did really well against probably the best club side in the world right now. It will take time for so many players to gel and get used to Kompany's system. It took a while last year and this will be the same. A month or so at the bottom then a climb up to mid-table safety will follow.

Matey: Thought we did a lot better than in previous encounters with City - pressed well and caused a few problems. However City aren’t the best club in the world for nothing.

David: Thought they played well, seems a good team spirit. On that performance last night and the passionate crowd we're sure to stay up. Played some good attacking football but were a bit naive at times.

Jim: I thought Burnley reacted well to the early goal and City, though the better team, didn’t have it all their own way. Having watched the penalty incident in first half, I wonder why that wasn’t referred by VAR . It could easily have been a penalty and a red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity. That could have changed the outcome.

Manchester City fans

Monnie: A good win, even if the performance was efficient rather than spectacular. That said, the first two goals were excellent, and good to see Haaland doing what he does best. Going 3-0 up when we did allowed Pep to rest a few players and give a debut to Gvardiol. Kovacic looked solid, but a shame his debut was because of injury to De Bruyne.

Henry: A deserved win, yes, but out of 10, we were a mediocre six at best. City were not fully in sync, we had a lot of very loose passes that gave Burnley many chances that luckily for us they were unable to convert. I know it will be better after a few more games.

Alan: First game of the season is always tricky. Especially so when playing a newly-promoted team. A good enough performance which I'm sure will be improved on week by week.

Paul: Average performance this evening but Burnley hardly threatened. Worry for KDB again.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis of Saturday's first seven fixtures of the 2023-24 Premier League season, plus goals from Friday's meeting between newly-promoted Burnley and Manchester City.

If you missed Match of the Day then fear not - you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.