"A dream" - Burnley transfer priority voiced ahead of February 3 deadline | OneFootball

The Clarets need to add reinforcements in the final third to help in their promotion push

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Just like all Championship teams, Burnley will be looking to make some last-minute additions to their side in the last week of the transfer window, as their quest for an immediate return to the Premier League continues into the second half of the season.

Scott Parker’s side have put themselves in a solid position heading into the final few months of the season, with the Clarets being aided by one of the strongest defensive lines the division has ever seen, with James Trafford proving to be an unbeatable force between the sticks.

The issues have mainly come at the other end of the pitch for the Lancashire side of late, with goals often proving hard to come by in the second tier, with results hanging on a knife-edge due to the cagey nature of their performances throughout the 90 minutes.

With time running out to make any winter additions, we asked Football League World’s Burnley fan pundit Josh Lucas about his dream end to the transfer window for his side, and what positions they need to be strengthening.

Burnley need to add extra firepower to help promotion push

While the 5-0 drubbing of Plymouth Argyle last week helped make the goals scored column look a lot healthier, it has been no secret that Burnley have been a side struggling for goals throughout the Championship campaign.

In fact, the Turf Moor outfit had failed to score in three of their last four league outings before making the trip to Home Park, with goalless draws against Middlesbrough, Stoke City and Sunderland seeing them drop valuable points in the race for the top two, as they continued to draw a blank up top.

While Lyle Foster’s return to action will no doubt help Parker in terms of firepower, as well as the return of fan favourite Ashley Barnes, Lucas believes it is in the wider areas that his side are lacking when it comes to attacking impetus.

The Clarets fan pundit said: “A dream last week of the window would be to get somebody who could play across the front three, preferably a right-winger or a striker because obviously we missed out on Morgan Whittaker.

“For me, on that Whittaker situation, it felt like the board took too long to pull the trigger, so we need someone who can play across the front three.

“I don’t want to say striker, just because Zian Flemming is playing quite well, and you can’t drop Josh Brownhill. I understand Parker’s dilemma, but we just need someone who can be more clinical in the final third.

“I would say we need to prioritise a right-winger, just because Jaidon Anthony plays much better on the left, but we have Lyle Foster playing on the left at the minute when obviously he is a striker.”

Burnley must look for Morgan Whittaker alternatives after Middlesbrough deal

Burnley were long-term admirers of Whittaker, having reportedly had two bids rejected in the summer for the Plymouth Argyle man, before also failing to get him signed once returning to negotiations this winter.

In the end, Middlesbrough managed to sign the left-footed ace for a reported £6 million plus add-ons last week, with a promotion rival benefitting from the Clarets’ resistance to raise their offer and meet Argyle’s valuation of the forward.

Whittaker would have been the perfect solution to Burnley’s deficiencies up top of late, with his marauding runs in from the right channel and devastating left foot a valuable weapon at this level, while offering the likes of Anthony and Foster to play in more familiar positions.

As it is, Parker and his staff are back at square one right now, with reports linking them with Cardiff City winger Ollie Tanner, while a contract offer for Grady Diangana was also reportedly turned down.

Attacking additions will likely make all the difference in the race for automatic promotion this season, and if Burnley get their recruitment right, we are going to have some race on our hands as the season heads towards its climax.