Burnley were relegated last season and have spent the summer rebuilding ahead of their upcoming 2022/23 Championship campaign.
That restructure has seen the Clarets bring in the likes of Josh Cullen from Anderlecht and Samuel Bastien from Standard Liege.
And it looks like they’ve raided the Belgian market again, according to respected journalist Fabrizio Romano on Twitter:
Surprising move for Burnley – set to sign Brazilian right back Vitinho from Cercle Brugge. It’s done, agreement in place, been told it will be official soon. Medical already completed 🚨🇧🇷 #transfers
Contract until June 2026 agreed, as Kompany wanted Vitinho as priority target. pic.twitter.com/AydQPGgHry
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 27, 2022
Vitinho – a taste of samba magic for Turf Moor
23-year-old Vitinho started out his career back in his native Brazil with his hometown club Cruzeiro.
Advancing up the age groups, he didn’t manage to crack the first-team other than a single, 22-minute appearance in 2018 against Atletico Mineiro.
That summer saw the young right-back brought into European football, Circle Brugge snapping him up on a five-year deal.
Since signing for Cercle Brugge, Vitinho has made 67 Jupiler Pro League appearances, scoring two goals and registering three assists for the Belgians.
LINK: ALL THE LATEST BURNLEY NEWS ON THE72
With a year left on his current deal with the Belgian top-tier side, it looks like he will be continuing his European football at Turf Moor.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano tweets that it is a deal as good as done, Vitinho having already passed the medical and signed a four-year deal at Turf Moor.
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany will be looking to get everything wrapped up as quickly as possible with the Clarets’ first game of the season this Friday against Huddersfield Town.
Thoughts?
Over the summer, Burnley have seen their defence ripped to shreds with departures.
Central defenders Ben Mee and James Tarkowski have left on free transfers. Youngster Nathan Collins left on a big-money deal to Wolves as well.
Bringing Vitinho in does solve their defensive woes to some degree. They are getting a youngster with top-flight experience behind him as well as four Brazil Under-20 caps.
The Sky Bet Championship is a league that is difficult and one where teams fight hard.
It is also arduous in that it is a 46-game campaign that teams have to navigate.
Of the defenders that Kompany and Burnley have signed this summer, Vitinho is both the oldest and most experienced.
If he’s managed to hold down a first-team place with Cercle Brugge, he should be able to adapt to Championship football with Burnley.
