LOYAL servant Graham Branch fears that Ade Akinbiyi will leave Burnley this week if the price is right.

The Clarets' longest serving player has grown accustomed to seeing strikers leave the club in recent years to fill a financial black hole.

Fouteen goal Akinbiyi could become the third leading goalscorer in as many years to leave Turf Moor should Sheffield United return with an improved offer after seeing their initial £1.5million bid rejected.

And Branch, who arrived on a free transfer from Stockport seven years ago, dreams of the day when the Clarets can add to their numbers instead of seeing predators swoop to rob the club of its star players.

"It's always been the same since I've been here," he insisted.

"It's very frustrating and I'm sure the fans feel that way as well, seeing some of the best players going.

"Gareth Taylor left a few years ago, then Robbie Blake last year and now possibly Ade.

"They don't want that and neither do we. We've always had small squads, never a big one. But we don't need to be dismantling this squad - we need to be building one and it would be hard to replace a player of Ade's standing.

"Whether he goes or not is out of our hands, but it's hard.

"The gaffer is a very good manager, his staff are very good and if we get a few more players in, a few fresh faces and a bit more competition, I think we can go places.

"We're so close and with just a bit more money to spend, I honestly think we could do really well."

Branch admitted the thought of losing Akinbiyi was playing on minds ahead of last weekend's derby day defeat to Preston North End.

The Clarets battled bravely without the suspended striker, only to fall to a fourth league defeat in five games and drop further off the play-off pace.

But the former Tranmere striker, fast approaching his 300th start for the club, believes there is still every reason to be cheerful in the present, uncertain climate.

He added: "Last week was very hard. There's been a lot of whispers around the ground and what's happening with Ade has not been out of our heads.

"We gave it everything against Preston and the gaffer went round shaking all our hands afterwards and thanking us, which showed the lads that we did play well."

He added: "We've got a great bunch of lads here and having a small squad helps with the family atmosphere.

"We've hit a bit of a brick wall, but if we can keep playing the way we did against Preston, especially in the second half, I can only see us going one way and that's up."