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."
KrU
Hmm he's still around.
used
going further down the grade.
The man who was death
didn't get much chances like his former villa and nantes team mate mathieu berson.....