Coyle wants to keep Lafferty

Last updated : 24 May 2008 By Tony Scholes
Kyle Lafferty
This is likely to be the fourth successive transfer window where Burnley have found themselves having to fend off clubs keen to sign our Northern Ireland international striker and Coyle, just like Steve Cotterill before him, is keen to keep a player he believes can only get better.

There's been no confirmation of any offer from Wolves, reported in their local media this week, which does suggest there has been no offer with the Clarets having previously been more than willing to announce the turning down of bids. Meanwhile Coyle says he's determined to keep him.

"Nothing will change from that," he said. "You want to keep your best players at your football club and Kyle is one of them. I think he has got better and I think he can evolve and be better again.

"There was interest in January and there will be interest and enquiries for our players, just as we have an interest and enquired about players from other clubs. I don't speak about anything else anyone has done, but what I will say is that we will do our utmost to make sure he remains at Burnley.

"I can't stop people making offers. I like to think we conduct our business in a proper manner. If anything has happened, and I'm not saying it has, it would always remain confidential between ourselves."

The manager though is well aware that finances could dictate should the offers continue to increase. He added: "If someone was to come in and offer something out of this world for them, that would be for Kyle, the chairman and Brendan Flood to have a look at."

Flood did say after the last transfer window closed that our challenge was making sure we kept our squad together and to keep hold of our assets.