Inside Samuel Bastien's Burnley transfer as new boy hails Kompany pull and makes Clarets pledge

Samuel Bastien's move to Burnley was in the offing before Vincent Kompany arrived formally arrived at Turf Moor.

The Belgian, who was only confirmed as the new Clarets chief last month, had been in talks with chairman Alan Pace for a number of weeks and verbally agreed the move in May. Kompany had therefore been involved in transfer discussions with the Turf board and Bastien's name regularly cropped up.

The Burnley chief knew the 25-year-old's capabilities well from his time at Standard Liege and felt that, at 25, he could have an impact in the Clarets midfield while being young enough to develop further and have a potential re-sale should Burnley cash in down the road.

Liege struggled last season and were ready to part with Bastien, who was entering the final year of his contract and was one of the club's bigger earners. Kompany made his move and contacted the player to discuss the possibility. That was decision made for Bastien.

"The manager called me saying he was coming here to Burnley, that he was interested in me and" said the former Anderlecht Academy graduate. "When someone like Vincent Kompany calls you it is sure that you will not hesitate twice.

"He played a very big role. When I was in Belgium, he was a coach in Anderlecht and he is also someone in England, also very well-known and throughout the world. When a coach like that calls you, of course you can only accept his offer.

"Then there you go, I let my agents work with the club. Today I am very happy to be here."

That initial call was around a month ago and Bastien arrives as summer signing number five. The DR Congo international was attracted by the prospect of challenging himself in England and taking on a new chapter in his career which has thus