'Hung out to dry' - Jeff Stelling makes damning Burnley claim after Jamie Vardy arrival | OneFootball

Jeff Stelling has claimed Nicky Hayen has been 'hung out to dry' after Burnley signed free agent Jamie Vardy in recent days...

Jeff Stelling has weighed in on the situation at Burnley following Jamie Vardy's arrival to Turf Moor in recent days to bolster Nicky Hayen's attacking ranks.

Burnley have signed the veteran striker on a contract until the end of the 2026/27 season, with the 39-year-old arriving as a free agent after a season in Serie A with Cremonese. Jamie Vardy has scored 145 Premier League goals, as well as 38 in the Championship.

Of course, Vardy is most well known for his time spent with Leicester City. He spent 13 years with the Foxes and became an England international for three years too. Vardy scored seven in 26 appearances for the national team.

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Vardy is joining a side rooted to the bottom of the Championship after relegation in three of the last five seasons and promotion in the other two prior to 2026/27. Jeff Stelling has spoken about Vardy amid the current context at Turf Moor.

Speaking via talkSPORT's Breakfast show, Stelling said: "Burnley is the ultimate community football club. They do so much out in their community. Obviously, Cremonese were relegated last season, so Vardy was leaving.

"He was a free agent and he had options to go — well, we're told he had an option to go to Brazil rather than Burnley — I'm not sure whether there's any truth in that or not, but I'll tell you what, he's got a massive task.

"What a task. Bottom of the Championship, they've brought in £60 million more than they spent during the course of the summer, and the manager has been hung out to dry in my opinion. They've sold Zian Flemming.

"And their next two away games — good luck with these Jamie Vardy — away to Wrexham and away to Swansea."

Why Jamie Vardy could be a masterstroke addition to Burnley

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Burnley’s dreadful start means Vardy arrives at Turf Moor with a huge opportunity to make an immediate impact.

The Clarets are bottom of the Championship after five games, while Flemming’s departure to Ipswich Town has removed one of their main sources of attacking production.

Yet Vardy gives Hayen another weapon alongside Ashley Barnes, Michael Obafemi, Andreas Hountondji, Dastan Satpaev, Armando Broja, and Zeki Amdouni.

At 39, he may initially be better suited to a super-sub role, but that could actually maximise his strengths. Against tiring Championship defences, his movement, anticipation and ruthless finishing remain incredibly dangerous.

He scored seven times for Cremonese last season despite playing in Serie A, showing he can still contribute at an old age. The story of Vardy's career makes the move even more remarkable. He went from non-League football with Stocksbridge Park Steels to becoming a Premier League champion, England international, and Golden Boot winner.

He scored 24 goals during Leicester's historic 2015/16 title campaign and later became the oldest player to win the Premier League Golden Boot, with 23 goals in 2019/20. For a Burnley side desperately needing goals, having that experience available from the bench could prove invaluable.

EFL expert questions Burnley's transfer strategy after signing Jamie Vardy

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There is an argument that Vardy’s arrival is less a masterstroke and more a desperation signing from a Burnley side scrambling for answers. The 39-year-old has had no pre-season and is joining with the campaign already well into September, meaning he could need time to regain match sharpness.

He needs to adapt to the Championship again and Burnley cannot simply assume the Vardy of Leicester will reappear at Turf Moor. EFL expert George Elek has raised similar concerns, highlighting the concern around Burnley's processes to get to this stage just after the window has closed.

There have to be concerns surrounding how quickly Vardy can get up to speed. Even if his experience is invaluable, there is no guarantee that experience translates into goals, particularly if Burnley need an immediate transformation.