Scott Parker is running almighty Burnley FC transfer risk as things stand | OneFootball

Burnley are still in desperate need for attacking reinforcements as the window enters its latter stages

By the end of January, most Burnley fans probably expected they'd have had some attacking reinforcements through the door, but that's not been the case so far, with the Clarets still having plenty of work to do in the closing stages of the window.

So far, Oliver Sonne, Jonjo Shelvey and Ashley Barnes have come through the door, but none of the three have really been brought into address the root of Burnley's problem, which is in the final third.

Boasting the best defensive record after 29 games of a season in English Football League history, conceding just nine goals, defence has certainly been the foundation upon which Burnley's success has been built and is undoubtedly the main reason why they find themselves in the promotion race.

If they're to be in the top-two by the end of the season though, they're going to have to sort out their goalscoring woes at some point, and the January window seems the perfect time to do so, which makes it all the more puzzling why nothing has been done yet.

Of course, there is still time, but leaving it so late to do business heaps huge pressure on Chairman Alan Pace, who is the man trying to make these deals happen.

Scott Parker needs a striker in the next few days

If there's one position in the team that needs strengthening without any room for negotiation, it's Burnley's striking department, with Zian Flemming currently plugging that gap to the best of his ability.

Although he's done a respectable job filling in, it's glaringly obvious that he's been shoehorned into that position, and he isn't naturally a striker - he doesn't make runs like a striker, he doesn't hold the ball up like a striker, and he's seldom in the right place at the right time like a striker.

Burnley do have other striking options available in Jay Rodriguez, Ashley Barnes and Lyle Foster, but with the former two of that trio ageing, and Foster flattering to deceive, Parker isn't blessed with many viable options.

It's obvious that adding an out-and-out number nine good enough to come into the team and become a regular would ease the burden somewhat, but Parker also needs to push for other attacking reinforcements.

Having a proper striker will be great, but if he isn't having any chances created for him, then the problem will still be there to an extent, so a number nine alone won't miraculously solve Burnley's issue.

Burnley's attacking stats this season are among the league's worst

It's perhaps gone under the radar at times this term given their admirable defensive record, but Burnley's attacking metrics have been really poor, but they've been fortunate enough to win most games by a one-goal margin.

The problem for Burnley though, is that they can't always get that goal and have drawn nine league games 0-0 this season as a result, with the concerning aspect being that five of those came against current bottom-half sides.

That's what has prompted huge frustration from fans, and to break down those frustrating low blocks against lesser opposition, Burnley need more than just a number nine.

The stats show that they don't create enough to get many clear sightings of goal, and a number nine alone won't miraculously solve that problem.

Drops in the form of Luca Koleosho and Jeremy Sarmiento have exacerbated the problem Burnley face, but Parker can't be sentimental towards his current crop and needs to push Pace to bring attacking reinforcements in over the next few days as a matter of urgency.