Burnley set to beat West Ham & Hull City to Sunderland transfer | OneFootball

Jocelin Ta Bi is set to complete a move to Burnley, despite rival interest

Burnley are poised to complete the loan signing of Sunderland winger Jocelin Ta Bi.

The Clarets have not acclimatised to life back in the Championship well at all in the infancy of the season. Through three games, Nicky Hayen's side have already lost as many games as they did in the entirety of the 2024/25 campaign and have conceded nine times — the most in the division.

Burnley are set for an incredibly important couple of days, with the transfer window closing on Tuesday at 11pm. The Belgian boss needs reinforcements and a settled squad to truly focus on attacking the division from September through to January.

And it seems they're close to loaning in a bright star from Sunderland to inject some energy into what's already turning into a tiring campaign.

Burnley closing in on Jocelin Ta Bi loan deal

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According to the Northern Echo, Sunderland wideman Ta Bi travelled to Turf Moor over the weekend to meet Burnley officials and finalise a loan move ahead of the September 1 deadline.

The Clarets have beaten off interest from numerous clubs in France and fellow English sides Hull City and West Ham United for his short-term signature.

The Ivorian has made only two senior appearances for the Black Cats since arriving at the Stadium of Light in January from Israeli top-flight outfit Maccabi Netanya, ending a loan spell with Hapoel Petah Tikva, and was an unused substitute in their Premier League opener against Ipswich Town.

Against Fulham, though, Ta Bi wasn't involved in the squad at all. He hinted at an imminent move to Burnley on his Snapchat profile, and Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris stated that "it's still possible" for the 21-year-old to depart before the transfer window closes.

"We like his profile; he's like Jules [Ahoka], big profile and potential for the position with exactly the characteristics you need for this position, but he needs time to get better," Le Bris said.

“It's possible through the training because every day it's really intense with good players so you can learn. But it's also possible with a loan, so we'll decide. Game time is crucial."

How Burnley fans have reacted to Jocelin Ta Bi deal

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Football League World's Burnley fan pundit wasn't too enthused about the prospect of signing yet another young and unproven winger with little Championship experience when the news first broke of their interest in Ta Bi.

That sentiment was reflected amongst the wider Clarets fanbase online when they found out a move was advancing for the 21-year-old to join the club.

"Yea cause this guy who’s played 1 [league] game for Sunderland is what we need," one fan said, sarcastically. "Yeah let’s get another Winger in; that’ll make a difference," a second added.

"Another cheap loan after selling over £90m worth of players. Will he improve our starting 11? Unlikely, we need experienced players. Pace and ALK are a disgrace," one disgruntled fan commented.

And further, FLW's fan pundit questioned why a winger was even necessary on X, with the likes of Jacob Bruun Larsen, Jaydon Banel, Lluc Castell, Mike Tresor, Marcus Edwards and even youngster Enock Agyei in the squad, albeit not all of those are natural right-wingers, as Ta Bi is.

"So let me get this straight. We loan in a player from Sunderland when we've got JBL, Tresor, Banel, Castell, Edwards and Agyei. Why would we not just try Agyei if we want to play a right winger who is young and barely played?" he questioned.

Burnley will feel their primary targets should lie elsewhere ahead of transfer deadline day

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As outlined, Burnley have ample depth and cover in wide areas, and some will argue that if a new winger were to come to the club between now and Tuesday's deadline, they would need to be a known talent.

Ta Bi isn't that known talent, but he evidently has the potential to have a breakout campaign, similarly to how Nathan Tella did after a couple of years struggling in the Premier League with Southampton.

But this Burnley side needs improving across the board. Nicky Hayen is still yet to win a game in 90 minutes, and a late Zian Flemming goal on the opening day against West Ham is all that's stopping them from being on no points after three league games.

With Flemming angling for a move away before the deadline, too, a new striker and some stronger midfield options should definitely be further up the wishlist than a winger — and an unproven loanee wideman at that.

The Clarets are in for a couple of very busy days, and they could end up being the difference between another successful Championship campaign or one that ends up in disappointment.