Stoke City's once strong Irish contingent will be all but gone when Glenn Whelan leaves the club this summer, as he follows Jon Walters out the door having played a significant role in stabilising the club's Premier League status.
It looked very much like Aston Villa were going to be the ones to welcome Whelan's experience as they hope to escape the quicksand that is the Championship if you can't manage to bounce back at the first attempt, but now it seems as though the Ireland international could have the chance to stay in the top flight.
Sean Dyche, or Sean O'Dyche as he will henceforth be known for his services to keeping Irish players in the Premier League, is reportedly looking to make Whelan the sixth Irish international in his squad, according to the Burnley Express.
Having already secured the services of Stoke City striker Jonathan Walters it appears that the latest recruit at Turf Moor could be reunited with former Potters team-mate Glenn Whelan sooner than expected.
The Clarets are reportedly prepared to pay £2.5m for the 33-year-old who has made over 300 appearances for Mark Hughes’ men since signing from Sheffield Wednesday for £500,000 over nine years ago.
With Aston Villa's bid believed to be around the £1m mark, Burnley will get Whelan if these reports are true.
To take Walters and Whelan from Stoke and add them to Jeff Hendrick, Robbie Brady, Stephen Ward, and Kevin Long already playing under O'Dyche at Burnley would make it extremely difficult for any Irish fan not to wish them great success.
It would make the Lancashire club's current squad one of the 'most Irish' in Premier League history.
One potential stumbling block would be Burnley's apparent interest in signing Jack Cork from Swansea, as it's difficult to see them adding both Cork and Whelan in the same window.
We really hope it happens, and we also hope that Burnley unveil a green alternate kit for the new season while they're at it.
[via Burnley Express]
