Burnley's chances of landing Aston Villa's Eric
Djemba-Djemba on loan again are slim with Benfica linked with the
midfielder.
The Cameroon international appears to have no future at Villa Park
and spent the second half of last term on loan with the
Clarets.
Burnley boss Steve Cotterill was keen to agree a similar deal for
next season but Villa boss Martin O'Neill is said to be only
willing to let the 26-year-old leave on a permanent transfer.
Benfica are said to be interested and are ready to offer £700,000
for him - a move that would appear to suit both Villa and
Djemba-Djemba.
That would, for now, appear to rule out a move back to Turf Moor
for the former Manchester United man, although Cotterill admits he
will keep an eye on the situation and something could be sorted out
later in the summer.
He told the Burnley Express: "With Eric, we will leave it as late
as possible, we will leave a window open there, but we won't know
what work he will have done in pre-season then.
"We would have wanted to have him in with the rest of the lads for
pre-season if we were going to have him on a longer-term loan, but
I don't see that one happening at the moment."
