Burnley FC handed potential transfer boost amid Sporting CP claim | OneFootball

Edwards has been in strong form since joining the Clarets on loan

On-loan Burnley FC winger Marcus Edwards is 'unlikely to return' to his parent club, Sporting CP, after the conclusion of his current loan stint at Turf Moor.

That is according to Portuguese sports outlet Record - relayed by Sport Witness - who state that whilst the Clarets do not hold an obligation or option to make the former Tottenham Hotspur man's temporary switch permanent within the current agreement, Scott Parker's side do see the 26-year-old as a viable target in the long-term.

The East Lancashire outfit are still very much in the race for automatic promotion, despite dropping points in a 1-1 draw against play-off hopefuls West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday night, as they were unable to capitalise on Sheffield United's own slip-up by the same scoreline against Bristol City at Bramall Lane, as they could have leapfrogged Chris Wilder's side on goal difference.

With nine matches of the Championship season remaining, Burnley currently find themselves two points behind the Blades, who still have to travel to Turf Moor, and four points off league leaders Leeds United.

Parker's side were able to fend off competition from promotion rivals Sunderland for Edwards' signature in the latter stages of the most recent transfer window, and it is no surprise that they hope to secure his services on a long-term basis, with the wide man in a rich vein of form of late.

Prior to returning to English shores, Edwards spent the previous six-and-a-half years on the continent through a loan spell with Excelsior in the Netherlands, before featuring for Vitoria de Guimaraes and Sporting CP, having signed for the Portuguese giants back in January 2022, although the transfer saw 50% of the transfer fee end up in Tottenham's coffers due to a sell-on clause.

The one-time Norwich City loanee has made 120 appearances for the 'Verde e Brancos', scoring 24 times and registering 26 assists in the process. However, only 10 of those would come in the first half of this campaign amid injury issues and not being selected in Ruben Amorim, Rui Borges and Joao Pereira's respective matchday squads.

It was reported by the Daily Mail that Burnley would agree an £800,000 loan fee for the wide player, who has since gone on to score against Premier League opposition in Southampton in the FA Cup Fourth Round, as well as his only Championship goal thus far being a stunning curling effort against Sheffield Wednesday on February 21st.

The same report stated that a £10m obligation-to-buy and sell-on clause would also be included within the deal. But, whilst fresh reports from Record - relayed through Sport Witness - state that no obligation-to-buy or extend the loan was included in the eventual agreement, Burnley's chances of re-signing Edwards in the summer have been given a boost.

Record claim that the dynamic and versatile wide man is 'unlikely to stay' at the Estádio José Alvalade after this season, despite his contract running with Sporting until the summer of 2026.

It is also believed that Edwards' number 10 will be handed over to the in-demand Francisco Trincao in a bid to maintain the former Wolves man's services amid interest from Manchester United and Manchester City, whilst Barcelona are reported to hold a 50 percent sell-on clause and buy-back clause between €20-25m, with Trincao's contract running with the Lisbon-based side until 2027.

Burnley will hope to fend off Sunderland interest in Marcus Edwards by achieving promotion

Burnley were able to secure Edwards' services at the Black Cats' expense initially, and they will hope to do so again by achieving promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

That's due to a recent report from Alan Nixon which stated that the North East side are monitoring the winger's progress in Lancashire, as they will reignite their interest with a fresh bid if Burnley fail in their bid for top-flight football, either automatically or through the play-offs.

In the short-term, the former England youth international's focus will be on aiding a third promotion on Parker's CV, which, in turn, makes it more feasible that he would be returning to Turf Moor next season and making his bow in the top division of English football, having failed to make a Premier League appearance during his time at Spurs.