Vincent Kompany’s Burnley duo destined for Premier League greatness

Robin Bairner

• 7 Apr 2023 22:48 BST
• 14 min read

Burnley will play Premier League football next season, with Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany having led the Clarets back up at the first time of asking.

The Turf Moor side have waltzed to promotion with five matches of the Championship season remaining, securing their place back in the top flight thanks to a 2-1 victory away against Middlesbrough on Good Friday.

With a lack of genuine household names and having had to give the squad a huge overhaul last summer, Kompany’s achievements should not be underestimated.

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The former Belgium international used his knowledge of football in his homeland, where he previously coached Anderlecht, to plunder as many as nine new signings, while he also used the loan market to his advantage.

Indeed, it is among the players that Kompany signed on loan that potential Premier League greatness resides for two young stars in particular.

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Who are Burnley’s best players?

According to data analytics experts SciSports, Burnley currently have two players on their books who have the potential to become key performers at almost any Premier League side.

Ian Maatsen

Left-sided defender Ian Maatsen is on loan at Burnley from Chelsea this season but has what it takes to become not just a first-team player at the Blues, but a very important figure for them, too.

He has progressed rapidly while on loan with the Clarets, playing 32 Championship matches and showing his attacking qualities by scoring four times and creating six more. Indeed, he got Burnley’s season up and running with the only goal in a 1-0 win over Huddersfield back in July.

With first-team prospects at Chelsea scant due to the presence of Ben Chilwell, Burnley might legitimately hope to keep the Netherlands U21 international on loan next season to help him develop in the top flight.

In the long term, he is a player for Blues fans to keep a close eye on.

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Taylor Harwood-Bellis

Harwood-Bellis is a particularly interesting player because Kompany knows him well from his time at Manchester City, where the 21-year-old is currently on loan from. Furthermore, it is interesting that he is appreciated so much by the club legend given that he is primarily a centre-back – the same position that Kompany played.

Like Maatsen, he has improved notably over the course of his stay at Burnley, although the England U21 international has only played 27 times in the league because of injury issues.

Unlike his colleague, Harwood-Bellis is tipped only to be good enough for a rotation role at City, but he would likely find joy at any other Premier League side. Indeed, according to SciSports he could become a key figure at the likes of Chelsea.

Burnley want to keep him on a full-time basis but he has reportedly attracted interest from the likes of Newcastle. Whichever club signs him, they will have got themselves a gem.