Scott Parker responds to questions over Burnley transfer business

Scott Parker has defended Burnley’s summer recruitment strategy as scrutiny intensifies over the club’s difficult Premier League campaign, insisting the Clarets did what they realistically could in the transfer market.

Burnley are currently enduring an 11-game winless run, with pressure growing on Scott Parker following a dramatic dip in form since their last league victory away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on 26 October 2025.

Since that win at Molineux, Burnley have collected just two points from a possible 33, leaving them firmly embroiled in a relegation battle. As frustration has grown among supporters, attention has increasingly turned towards the club’s summer business and whether the squad assembled is equipped for the demands of the Premier League.

The Clarets were active in the off-season, blending experience with youth. Veteran signings such as Martin Dúbravkaand Kyle Walker were brought in alongside younger prospects like Lesley Ugochukwu and Loum Tchaouna.

Despite recently acknowledging that Burnley may have lacked quality at times this season, Parker was careful not to criticise the club’s transfer strategy when speaking to the Burnley Express.

“Well, I think it’s like anything now,” Parker said. “There needs to be an understanding of what you can do. We can all go to an owner and ask him to bring me in X amount of players and what it costs, certainly at this level. But if you physically can’t do that…”

Parker stressed that the club operated within its limits and felt comfortable with the decisions made at the time.

“I feel we recruited well,” he added. “Of course, there’s been some young players that have come in and this season is probably something new to them — a new year, a new league.

“But for large parts, we did what we physically could do and we were happy with that.”

The Burnley boss also pointed out that transfer decisions are often best assessed with the benefit of hindsight, rather than in the heat of a difficult run.

“With hindsight, we’ll be the judge of that, of course. That will be at the end of the season,” Parker explained. “We’ll sit there and say: ‘we got that one wrong, we got that one right.’

“But I’m happy with what we have and we’ll keep going on that.”

Having followed Burnley’s recent matches closely, it’s clear that performances have not always reflected the severity of their results. However, points — rather than process — are now what matter most, and Parker’s defence of the summer window will only hold weight if results begin to turn.

Burnley face a crucial run of fixtures that could define both their survival hopes and Parker’s future. Improved results would quickly ease the focus on recruitment, but continued struggles are likely to intensify questions around squad quality and planning.

Was Burnley’s summer business enough for the Premier League — or were the warning signs always there?