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Clarets ready to risk losing Keane on a free

Cape Town - Burnley chairman Mike Garlick is willing to lose Michael Keane for nothing at the end of next season if the defender helps them stay in the Premier League.

Keane has seen his stock rise since leaving Manchester United in January 2015, winning promotion back to the top flight with the Clarets and making 35 appearances this term as they finished 16th in the final standings.

The 24-year-old's performances for Sean Dyche's side earned him a first senior England cap against Germany two months ago, and he has been linked with a return to Old Trafford after catching the eye of United boss Jose Mourinho.

But Garlick insists there is no need for the Lancashire club to cash in on any of their players, admitting he would happily see Keane leave on a free transfer if it meant extra revenue for retaining their league status.

The Red Devils youth product has 12 months left on the three-and-a-half year contract he signed at Turf Moor after an initial loan spell there.

"Let's roll it forward a year - what's the prize for staying up again? Another £120-130m. So if we miss out on one or two fees and get that, I know what I'd take," Garlick said.

"The most important thing for the fans to know is that we don't actually have to sell any player. Going forward it's got to be on our terms and terms that are right for us. Do we need to sell anyone? No.

"It (speculation) is part of the business and it comes with the territory of being a successful team that has an impact in the Premier League, which is what we've done. It's bound to attract attention.

"Right now, there's a lot of noise out there from the media but we haven't had any formal interest in anyone. If we want to keep players, we'll keep them."

Meanwhile the Clarets have released midfielder Joey Barton a month after he was banned for 18-months from all football related activity for betting.

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