The Clarets are busy preparing for the upcoming Premier League season in the transfer market and are seeking to reinforce several areas

Out of all the loanees that Burnley wanted to bring back to Turf Moor, this one was always likely to be the deal which was perhaps up there with the most challenging to secure a return for.

Nathan Tella had a remarkable season at Turf Moor where his performances, goalscoring feats and personality helped to win him a place in the hearts of Clarets fans. The 19 goals he plundered put him comfortably at the top of the Turf Moor side’s goalscoring charts.

It was a breakout season for the 23-year-old. Before Tella rocked up at Turf Moor, despite having clear talent and promise he had not made a huge impact in professional football, despite picking appearances in the Premier League for Southampton.

But at Burnley, Tella truly found his feet and thrived under Vincent Kompany’s leadership in a side which laid waste to the Championship. In fewer than 12 months at Turf Moor, he eclipsed the number of appearances he has made at St Mary’s.

Naturally and unsurprisingly, the Clarets want Tella back at Turf Moor. Why wouldn’t they, after such a great season in which the attacker played a big part and looked ready to have another go at the Premier League.

Should Tella return to his parent club and stay there, that of course will not be a reality after Saints were relegated as the Premier League’s basement side. The attacker faces the prospect of at least another season in the Championship, or the potential to be in the top flight with the Clarets, should he return as regulars at the Turf will no doubt be hoping as initial talks have already been held over just that and are anticipated to ramp up.

Ever the professional when asked about his future at last month’s trophy parade in Burnley, Tella himself admitted he did not know what his future holds. Being respectful to his parent club, he mentioned he is looking forward to pre-season back with Saints at the club’s Staplewood training base.

He is returning to a club which, technically, does not have a manager in place as things stand. Russell Martin is expected to be appointed on a three-year deal from Swansea City, but it seems that process is being delayed due to the Saints not wanting to pay the Swans as much compensation for his services.

The Saints know that in Tella, they have a player whose stock is high after his season with the Clarets and can command a fee which they deem merits that. A fee of £15m has circulated in reports.

Southampton know that, in the event Tella does remain with them, they have a player who has performed at Championship level and they will be seeking for him to do the same. With two years left on his deal too, they are in a strong position to dictate the fee they want.

Burnley have already been active this summer in the transfer market and outlayed funds. Jordan Beyer’s loan move being made permanent cost €15m, which is around £13m, while other funds have been used to do the same with Michael Obafemi’s Swansea transfer, with a January loan to be converted in a summer permanent move.

Transfer budgets have been a hot topic this summer in the Premier League and if the likes of Manchester United will have a limit to the war chest they have to do their business, the same will be even more true of the Clarets. They cannot afford to allocate more resources than is needed on any one player when the squad needs improvements in several areas ahead of the Premier League season.

A goalkeeper, full-backs, another central defender, a central midfielder and attackers are all potential areas of an upgrade this summer. Though Tella would undoubtedly help the latter, the Clarets will no doubt be mindful of not paying over the odds in a summer where several bits of business are expected to be done still.

If Burnley deem the price too high, there will no doubt be alternatives on the list. A glance every day seems to bring a new name linked to the Clarets this summer as a wide net is cast of potential options.

Beyer and Obafemi have already been captured, while a bid of £15m has been rejected by Chelsea for defender Ian Maatsen. The London club are said to be wanting to hold out for nearer £20m for the left-back who has a year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, but could yet sign a new deal, despite Chelsea’s need to raise funds this summer.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis will sit down with Manchester City this summer to discuss his future and next steps, with a year left on his deal there at present. The prospect of new terms at City and then, say, a loan spell back at Turf Moor but in the Premier League to see how he fares could be a realistic outcome.

In football, money talks and the price for Tella was always going to be the key issue over any permanent transfer for him this summer. The Clarets will have to tread the line of being able to commit funds for the Saints man’s move, but not at the expense of compromising reinforcing other areas of the squad in a complex summer of preparing for the Premier League.

And should a compromise not be reached and the numbers are ultimately too steep, then the Turf Moor side must not be afraid to walk away, even if means Tella does not return. If he does end up back at the Turf next season, it will be a big boost for both player and club who will have no need to integrate himself back into a side he already has a season of experience at and will look forward to testing himself back in the top flight.

But with Burnley’s recent history in the transfer market of uncovering gems and polishing them up, you can be sure the next Tella has been scouted and thoroughly assessed, in the event the real thing should not be back in claret and blue.