MANAGER EXPLAINS WHEN £10M BURNLEY DEAL COULD HAPPEN AS CLARETS CLOSE IN.

It is not exactly uncommon, when a player is dealing with speculation over his future, to see him removed from the matchday squad, his club insisting that said player is not ‘in the right frame of mind’.

There are no such concerns at Montpellier, it would seem, despite claims from Lequire that Burnley are closing in on a deal that would see Maxime Esteve cross the Channel to the tune of £10 million.  Montpellier host Lille on Sunday afternoon.

And head coach Michel der Zakarian insists that, unless anything substantial changes over the next 24 hours, Esteve will be part of his plans for the visit of Paulo Fonsenca’s side. Why wouldn’t he play (against Lille)?” Der Zakarian tells Foot National. “He’s playing against Lille.

If there’s a departure, we’ll see. For now, he’s going to play.”

The head coach also insists that Esteve will not complete a move to Turf Moor until the final few days of the window, with negotiations placed on the backburner until next week.

“If he leaves, he will leave Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday,” Der Zakarian adds. “My wish is that he stays here.

If the club has a good offer and he has to leave, we will have to be able to replace him and we will wish him well wind and good luck.

6ft 4ins central defender, France Under-21 international Esteve would arrive to strengthen a Burnley backline which has conceded 42 Premier League goals so far under Vincent Kompany.

Only bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United have been breached more often.

HITC Football understands that The Clarets have made an offer for Coventry City talisman Callum O’Hare too, while right-back Connor Roberts is on Leads’ radar.

Burnley have also been linked with Marseille’s £15 million-rated enforcer Pape Gueye, with President Pablo Longoria confirming that he is free to leave.