Burnley FC: January rejection could have silver lining for Scott Parker | OneFootball

Hannes Delcroix rejected a January move to Standard Liege

While the underlying focus of Burnley's January transfer window is primarily on incomings and bolstering an attack which at times flatters to deceive, outgoings could prove to be equally key.

Question marks surround several of the fringe members of the squad, two of whom have already departed, with Andreas Hountondji leaving for Standard Liege, while Han Noah Massengo departed for Auxerre.

The Clarets also have to deal with some of their soon-to-be out-of-contract stars, namely Josh Brownhill and Connor Roberts, who pose the club with the unwanted proposition of selling now to recoup cash or risk losing them for free at the end of the season.

It seems highly likely that in the midst of the promotion push, Burnley will take the risk, but even so, that doesn't account for the fact their squad is still looking rather bloated, with some returning stars and probable January arrivals only set to make that worse.

As such, Scott Parker will have to trim his squad down a little bit, but his attempt to do so by sending Hannes Delcroix to Standard Liege with Hountondji took a hit when the Belgian defender reportedly refused the move.

Hannes Delcroix's refusal could be a blessing in disguise

It's a sentence most Burnley fans thought they'd never come to say, and some probably still wouldn't say it now, but Delcroix's refusal to leave Turf Moor could ultimately work in their favour if he's to be used properly.

Most Clarets fans acknowledge that Delcroix simply wasn't up to the task at Premier League level, but nor were some of the player who have been among their better performers this season, with James Trafford encapsulating that perfectly.

Delcroix would undoubtedly be good enough to play in the Championship, and the fact he's left-footed is an added bonus, as Burnley aren't blessed with too many of those in defence.

Maxime Esteve has cemented his spot as the first-choice left-sided centre back, while Bashir Humphreys, who also prefers to use his left, is Scott Parker's premier choice at left back.

That leaves Lucas Pires as the only other left-footed defensive option at the club, but it seems that Parker doesn't particularly fancy him, and the fact his signing was announced a little over a week after Parker was appointed would hint that he was more of a club signing than a manager one.

Delcroix could help ease the burden of any defensive injuries for Burnley

With Parker hesitant to put full trust in Pires, that leaves him a little short of options for who to play at left back or left-sided centre back if need be.

The Clarets chief has utilised Humphreys at left back of late, and he finally seems to have got the balance of the team right, something that was completely off when Pires came back into the team against Stoke on New Year's Day.

Playing that central defender at full-back seems to work for Burnley, and Delcroix would seem to be a perfect option to slot in there in the absence of Humphreys, or if Humphreys has to slide into centre back if anything happens to Esteve.

Delcroix is a centre back by trade, but was sometimes played at left back by Vincent Kompany.

Injury has meant he hasn't made a league appearance all season, but it bodes well that his refusal to leave hints that he's happy to stay and fight for a starting berth.