Burnley reportedly turned down the chance to sign Sergio Reguilon just days before the Tottenham Hotspur man secured a loan switch to Manchester United.
The 26-year-old was made surplus to requirements in North London by new Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, failing to make any of the Lilywhites' matchday squads in the opening weeks of the campaign.
Reguilon spent the 2022-23 term on loan at Atletico Madrid in La Liga, where he appeared a total of 11 times, however the left-back only managed to make two starts during his time in Spain.
The signing and form of former Udinese man Destiny Udogie has left the Spaniard with no way back into the Spurs side, meaning that he was free to move on a temporary deal in the latter stages of the summer transfer window.
Old Trafford and Manchester United ended up being Reguilon's destination for the 2023-24 campaign, however Burnley's chief operating officer Matt Williams has confirmed that Burnley were offered the player last month.
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"Left-backs are a bit of a rarity. Look at Manchester United – one of the biggest clubs in world football," Williams told talkSPORT in an exclusive interview earlier this week.
"Luke Shaw goes down injured and they take a player [Reguilon] from Tottenham who we had been offered three or four days earlier. It was a business decision that we did not sign him – salaries, loan fees etc."
The Clarets have seen a raft of arrivals since gaining promotion to the Premier League as champions of the Championship, finishing well clear of second-placed Sheffield United and breaking the 100-point barrier in the process.
However, Vincent Kompany's men are finding life in the top flight difficult at the beginning of this term, losing all three of their matches so far and conceding 11 goals, meaning that they are currently the division's leakiest defence.
The vast majority of incomings at Turf Moor have been focused on exciting talent in forward areas which the club hope have the potential to grow into Premier League stars, however there is a clear lack of depth in full-back positions for the Clarets.
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Natural right-back Connor Roberts started on the left side of the Burnley backline during the 5-2 loss at home to Tottenham prior to the international break, with Kompany unable to secure a fully-fledged left-back in the summer.
The Lancashire-based club worked hard to lure Chelsea's Ian Maatsen back to Turf Moor following a successful loan spell last term, but the Dutchman opted to remain at Stamford Bridge and fight for a place under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Reguilon could make his Man United debut on Saturday afternoon when Europa League-bound Brighton & Hove Albion visit Old Trafford in the Premier League, with the Red Devils desperate to do their talking on the pitch following a tumultuous couple of weeks off the field.
Burnley will have to wait until Monday night for a chance to earn their maiden points of the league season - Kompany's charges face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Carter White
