Liverpool full-back Jon Flanagan has joined newly promoted Premier League side Burnley, signing on a season-long loan deal.
The Reds accepted Burnley‘s offer earlier in July, with Flanagan considering his options before opting to make the switch to the Turf Moor Stadium.
Despite his successful recovery from a knee injury that saw him miss 619 days of action, it was deemed that Flanagan would benefit from regular first-team football under Sean Dyche.
Flanagan would have been behind Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno at right- and left-back respectively.
Jurgen Klopp is believed to have faith in Flanagan’s ability, however, with a long-term role still likely under the German on Merseyside.
Burnley currently have Ben Mee, Stephen Ward, Danny Lafferty, Matthew Lowton and Tendayi Darikwa as full-back options, but Flanagan should come in to play a key role.
This will likely see him regularly deployed at right-back, with Mee established as one of Dyche’s most important players.
It remains to be seen whether Klopp moves to sign cover for Flanagan for 2016/17, with Brad Smith also leaving Anfield this summer to join Bournemouth in a deal worth £6 million.
This leaves Klopp with Clyne, Moreno, Connor Randall, Andre Wisdom and Joe Gomez as senior full-back options.
Randall has been subject of loan interest this summer, however, while Wisdom is expected to leave and Gomez is recovering from an Achilles injury.
Flanagan’s departure could prove positive for Trent Alexander-Arnold, however, with the youngster joining Klopp’s squad for Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the US.
Able to play both at right-back and in midfield, Alexander-Arnold may be earmarked for a role in the first team this season.
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