BURNLEY will smash their transfer record today when striker Paul Barnes arrives at Turf Moor for a near-£400,000 fee.

The Birmingham City hot-shot was locked in talks with manager Adrian Heath in Cheshire today after Birmingham agreed to sell the 28-year-old.

And if there are no last minute hitches, Barnes will link up with the Burnley first team squad at Gawthorpe tomorrow.

Barnes will make his Clarets debut at Gillingham on Saturday alongside leading-scorer Kurt Nogan.

And that promises to form one of the most explosive striking partnerships outside Division One.

Heath explained: "We've upped our bid to Birmingham to a fee in excess of £350,000 and we hope to have Paul Barnes signed by tonight."

"We've got further discussions on his personal terms yet and he has to pass the medical.

"But I'm confident he will be joining us and training with the team tomorrow." Birmingham boss Trevor Francis revealed that the clubs had agreed an initial fee of £350,000, with another £25,000 to be paid if the striker helps Burnley to gain promotion.

Barnes' imminent arrival at Turf Moor means he will team up with former manager John Ward.

The Turf Moor assistant paid Stoke £50,000 for Barnes in 1992 - who then proved a scoring sensation at York with 76 goals in 148 league appearances.

He joined First Division Birmingham City last March for £350,000 in part-exchange for Gary Bull. Heath added: "I've looked at strikers who haven't scored nearly as many goals as Paul Barnes and who are on the market for a lot more money.

"We know what we are getting. He scored 22 goals at York last season before he moved to Birmingham. "Then he scored seven in 14 games at Birmingham playing at a higher level. He has scored goals at every level he has played at.

"It would be a really exciting signing for Burnley."

The fee for Barnes will smash the Turf Moor club record set when Jimmy Mullen paid Brighton £300,000 for Kurt Nogan in February, 1995.

Heath revealed he has made a further bid for a First Division striker in case the Barnes deal falls through.

The Clarets, meanwhile, can look forward to tomorrow's lucrative Coca-Cola Cup second round draw.

Last night's 2-0 win over Mansfield Town ensured a handsome 5-0 aggregate victory.

First half goals from Damian Matthew - his first for the club - and David Eyres extinguished Mansfield's challenge.

"Overall it was not a great performance but I'm delighted we have made progress to the next stage," added Heath.

"Now we are just keeping our fingers crossed that we can get a good draw against a top Premiership side.

"David Eyres scored a quality goal. He's a quality player and he has shown that so far this season."

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