Brentford close to signing former Burnley captain Bee Mee on free

The former Burnley captain Ben Mee is close to joining Brentford on a free transfer. The 32-year-old defender rejected offers from two other Premier League clubs and interest from Major League Soccer. Negotiations are understood to be in their final stages and a deal should be confirmed soon.

Mee, who left Burnley at the end of his contract after 11 years with the club, would become Thomas Frank’s fourth signing of the summer. Brentford have brought in Aaron Hickey, Keane Lewis-Potter and Thomas Strakosha for their second season in the Premier League.

The arrival of Mee will provide a wealth of experience to a team that finished 13th last season, conceding 56 goals. Frank has been keen to bring in the centre-back because of fitness concerns over Ethan Pinnock and Kristoffer Ajer, who could miss the start of the season.

Mee missed the final stages of the season at Burnley through injury, becoming part of the caretaker backroom staff after the sacking of Sean Dyche.