Burnley may regret Crystal Palace transfer swoop due to Marcus Edwards factor | OneFootball

Burnley may regret swooping in a transfer for a Crystal Palace ace due to having the Marcus Edwards factor.

Burnley are back in the Championship after another relegation from the Premier League, continuing their recent yo-yoing between England's top two divisions and they are eyeing Crystal Palace fringe players for reinforcements.

The Clarets will be desperate to bounce back again to play the likes of Crystal Palace, but need players capable of making the difference, particularly against such stiff opposition in the Championship.

Marcus Edwards could be one of those players for Nicky Hayen this season, making their latest transfer interest an intriguing prospect this summer. That said, Burnley need reinforcements before the deadline, with just under two weeks remaining to complete transfer deals.

Burnley are battling Wrexham for Crystal Palace's Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

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Burnley are battling Wrexham for Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, according to our FLW exclusive.

The 23-year-old has considerable Championship experience, having spent 2024/25 on loan at Sheffield United before returning to the division with Stoke City last season.

He scored seven goals in 35 Championship appearances for the Blades and three in 16 matches in all competitions for Stoke, while also enjoying a productive short spell in Türkiye with Caykur Rizespor. That said, due to his profile, a lot of Rak-Sakyi's goals come at the same angle.

That's because Rak-Sakyi is a left-footed right winger who likes receiving the ball wide before driving inside, giving him the profile of a modern inverted winger. Not only that, but one who scores more than they assist. He is direct, capable of carrying the ball at pace, and has demonstrated an ability to contribute regularly if platformed well.

His potential availability makes sense for ambitious Championship clubs like Burnley, particularly given his age and the fact Palace have struggled to find him regular first-team football.

Marcus Edwards could lose out for Burnley if Jesurun Rak-sSakyi signs

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This is where Burnley need to be careful. Rak-Sakyi is an appealing player, but signing him could inadvertently reduce the minutes available to Edwards, who arguably needs to be one of the Clarets' most important attacking players this season.

The side ought to be built around him in attack, considering that Edwards has the potential to be among the Championship's best wingers.

His ability to take players on, create openings, and produce something unexpected makes him precisely the sort of player Burnley need if they are serious about challenging for promotion.

Yet, Rak-Sakyi's preferred position is essentially the same: both are left-footed and at their best operating from the right.Neither naturally solves the problem by simply moving to the opposite flank or into the number 10 position. Rak-Sakyi can play on the left, while Edwards has operated centrally, but neither is arguably as effective away from the right.

Burnley therefore risk spending resources on a player whose arrival could take valuable minutes away from someone who should be central to their promotion hopes. Edwards has just one goal and two assists in 16 Championship appearances, but Burnley supporters know that he could explode under Hayen this season.

Could there still be room for both Edwards and Rak-Sakyi at Turf Moor?

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To play devil's advocate, it does not necessarily mean Rak-Sakyi would be a bad signing. Edwards' injury record is a concern, and having another high-quality winger available could prove to be extremely useful across a 46-game Championship campaign.

Burnley cannot afford to rely on one player staying fit for an entire season, particularly when the demands of the division are so relentless.

There is also scope for the pair to play together if Burnley are willing to be flexible. Rak-Sakyi's secondary position is on the left, while Edwards can operate as a more central player in attacking midfield.

That could potentially allow both to feature without compromising the team's balance. Rak-Sakyi's ability to play from the left could also give Burnley more tactical variety rather than simply creating a straight battle for the same position every week.

The question is therefore less about whether Rak-Sakyi is good enough and more about whether Burnley need him. If Edwards can stay fit, he should be given every opportunity to become one of the faces of this promotion push. If injuries strike again, however, Rak-Sakyi could suddenly look like an excellent insurance policy.