Many fans have criticised Burnley chairman Mike Garlick for playing it safe in the transfer market in recent years, but they need to look at the bigger picture.
Despite being a small-town club, the Clarets are preparing for their fifth successive campaign in the Premier League. Sean Dyche has achieved a top-half finish twice in the last three seasons – a remarkable achievement considering the wealth of most top-flight clubs.
Garlick has been accused of holding the club back due to a lack of ambition, but it is important to remember that big spending does not guarantee success on the pitch.
In the summer of 2018, Fulham spent more than £100 million after securing promotion from the Championship. The London outfit brought in several marquee signings, including £27 million midfielder Jean Seri, but still failed to beat the drop.
Another example is Aston Villa, who spent around £120 million after winning the Championship Play-Offs last summer and ended up avoiding relegation by just a single point.
Instead of throwing cash at a few high-profile players, Garlick has invested in facilities that will benefit the club for many years to come.
The Clarets moved into the Barnfield Training Centre several years ago – a massive improvement on their previous training ground. Having state-of-the-art facilities will help attract a higher standard of youth player, especially now the club's academy has been awarded Category One status.
This process is already starting to take shape, with young striker Max Thompson making his Premier League debut against Manchester City during ‘Project Restart’.
While the transfer window is often a frustrating time for Clarets fans, it is worlds away from the situation clubs like Bolton and Sunderland are facing after taking big risks with their finances.
Burnley have been linked with Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall as a replacement for £15 million flop Ben Gibson. This deal could suit both Dyche’s ambitions and Garlick’s budget.