Vincent Kompany to become Burnley manager with transfer targets identified

Manchester City icon Kompany has agreed to quit Anderlecht and return to England as the Clarets target promotion back to the Premier League after relegation this season

Vincent Kompany has agreed to quit Anderlecht and return to the North West as Burnley ’s new manager.

Kompany was identified by chairman Alan Pace when he drew up a hitlist of candidates to succeed Sean Dyche, who was sacked at Easter. The former Manchester City skipper, who has been in charge of Anderlecht in his native Belgium since 2019, is the sort of big-name appointment Pace wants to raise the club’s profile.

Kompany, 36, has not been put off by Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League and has already identified potential new signings for the Clarets. Kompany and his family will settle straight back into life in the North West and his wife, Carla, and their three children are from Manchester.

Pace was keen to move quickly after the Clarets were relegated on Sunday in interim boss Mike Jackson’s final game in caretaker charge. Jackson took 11 points from his eight games and is expected to revert to his former role as the club’s Under-23s coach.

Kompany must decide which of Burnley’s nine out-of-contact players he wants to keep. Skipper Ben Mee is one of those nine and says he will take time to consider his Burnley future. Mee, 32, was part of Jackson’s backroom staff and missed the last 13 games with a hairline fracture of his fibula. Mee, who has been at Turf Moor for 11 years, says he need time to ponder his next move.

“It’s been an emotional ride this year and we’ll see what the future brings,” said the defender. “It’s going to be time to reflect now and over the summer. We’ll see what the future brings.”