'No denying' - Championship boss confirms Newcastle United transfer speculation after £25m Wolves bid

Burnley manager Scott Parker has confirmed that there was transfer interest in Luca Koleosho but has been impressed by how he has responded after reports of a move to Wolves.

According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Wolves made an offer of £25m in the summer, but the Clarets did not want to negotiate, which apparently upset the player.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano then claimed that Koleosho was their 'main' winger target, but that Burnley wanted a £40m fee, and that was considered too expensive.

The 20-year-old remained at Turf Moor, and has knuckled down to help the Clarets. He's played five games in the Championship so far this season, and has registered two assists. Koleosho’s manager has been impressed by how the Italy under-21 international dealt with the speculation, and spoke of his potential.

“There’s no denying there was that speculation there, which you’d expect for a young talent like Luca,” said Parker to the Burnley Express.

“When you’re a team coming out of the Premier League, you’re always going to be vulnerable for that and we saw that first-hand in terms of what happened here at the start of the season.

“This is a boy that stays focused, stayed on track and is reaping the rewards of that now in terms of his performances.”

“I’ve been really impressed with him.”

Despite the transfer window slamming shut last month, there is still speculation about Koleosho's future. According to HITC Sport, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Brighton and Nottingham Forest are all keeping tabs on the player, and have scouted him this season.

The Clarets are well within their rights to charge a considerable fee for Koleosho as he has a long-term contract at Turf Moor. He joined in the summer of 2023, and signed a contract extension earlier this month, which runs until 2029, and so any club wishing to sign him, will have to pay what Burnley are asking for.

Parker added: “As a coach, first and foremost you’re judging someone on their worth, their values and their work ethic because fundamentally as a young boy that’s your foundation.

“He’s someone that wants to engage, someone that wants to work hard, someone that wants to practise his craft in terms of becoming better and becoming the finished article.

“Luca is far from the finished article and I say that with real excitement. It’s pretty incredible because I think we all realise what a fantastic player he is, but he’s the last one on that training field, always wanting to do more, always wanting to get better and always listening."