Burnley ‘want’ to sign VfB Stuttgart’s Darko Churlinov this summer, according to Bild.
The 22-year-old spent the previous season on loan at Schalke, where he managed three goals and six assists from 24 matches in all competitions. He mainly operated as a right wing-back, but was also used on both wings and as an attacking midfielder on a few occasions.
Churlinov has returned to his parent club after Schalke didn’t exercise the buying option set at €3m. This has allowed Burnley to get into the picture to take him.
It’s claimed Vincent Kompany’s side have already sounded out for the North Macedonia international with the Bundesliga side.
Following the Clarets’ approach, Stuttgart should make a decision at the start of this week, whether or not to let the player make a move in the current window.
If Burnley were to sign the versatile player, they would not be able to take him for €3m. With the German club ruling out another loan deal, Bild explain they will not negotiate for anything less than €5m.
On Churlinov, Stuttgart chief Sven Mislintat said: “We are happy that Darko is with us and do not intend to give him away. At the very beginning of the summer, I said the door was open for a move to Schalke.”
“We wanted to respect what grew together and happened in the pre-season. But Darko has always said very clearly that if Schalke cannot finance it at the time, then he is clearly a VfB player.”
“With his energy, Darko is an absolute mentality player who is always good for us. He’s definitely garnered arguments to be a major contributor to the season. Even if he will certainly not always start.”
