5 Burnley players that have to exit Turf Moor this summer after promotion | OneFootball

Burnley must clear the decks to survive the top flight.

With promotion secured, Burnley must now shift focus toward assembling a squad capable of withstanding the demands of Premier League football.

Returning to the top flight will require a level of consistency, fitness and quality that not all members of the current group can provide.

Some departures will be inevitable; others, necessary. Here are five players the club should consider moving on this summer.

Manuel Benson

Few players captured the imagination during Burnley’s 2022/23 title-winning season quite like Manuel Benson, offering moments of individual brilliance, particularly with his signature goals cutting in from the flank.

But his transition to the Premier League proved difficult - and since relegation, injuries have severely curtailed his involvement.

Just three appearances in this campaign suggest his time at Turf Moor has run its course. Though still capable of flashes of quality, Benson’s limited availability makes it difficult to justify a role for him moving forward.

Ashley Barnes

A long-serving figure and fan favourite at Turf Moor, Barnes' contributions over the years have been significant.

Yet while his commitment is beyond question, his ability to perform at Premier League level for the Clarets at this stage of his career is in doubt.

Now 35, Barnes may struggle to cope with the physical and technical demands of top-flight football. Should he choose to continue playing, a move to a lower division could offer the game time he is unlikely to find in the Premier League.

Alternatively, a transition into a backroom or mentoring role may allow him to continue contributing to the club off the pitch. Either way, Burnley must take a forward-facing approach to squad planning.

Jonjo Shelvey

Shelvey’s arrival in January raised eyebrows and, in hindsight, offered little upside. The former Newcastle midfielder has made just two appearances for the Clarets and is reportedly set to miss the remainder of the season through injury.

This continues a broader trend: over the past two Premier League campaigns, Shelvey has started only six matches.

Though once known for his passing range and vision, he no longer represents the profile of midfielder Burnley should build around. In a system that requires intensity and tactical discipline, Shelvey’s inclusion would feel regressive.

Mike Trésor

Trésor’s Burnley career remains one of the more puzzling recent transfer sagas. Arriving on loan from Genk in 2023 after a prolific campaign in Belgium, expectations were high.

But despite 24 assists and eight goals the season prior, he failed to register a single goal for Burnley and made just four Premier League starts. Injuries and tactical decisions kept him sidelined, even after being declared fit.

The situation was compounded by a contractual obligation to purchase him for £15.4 million after relegation - a fee that now looks increasingly difficult to justify. While talented, Trésor clearly lacks the trust of the current manager, and the club would be wise to explore an exit strategy.

Nathan Redmond

Redmond’s arrival came with hopes of adding experience and wide threat, but neither materialised to any significant extent.

Across two seasons, he has made just 17 appearances and is yet to score for the club. Still only 31, he may find opportunities to reinvigorate his career elsewhere - perhaps by emulating the late-career successes of players like David McGoldrick or Billy Sharp, who have thrived further down the pyramid.

At Burnley, however, he remains a peripheral figure, and with squad places at a premium next season, a parting of ways seems the most logical outcome.