Vincent Kompany has confirmed Burnley’s interest in Montpellier defender Maxime Esteve as the club works to strengthen ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.

The Clarets, battling for survival in the Premier League, signed Chelsea forward David Datro Fofana on loan earlier this month.

And ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Kompany’s former club Manchester City, the Belgian said: “All I can say is he’s (Esteve) not our player at the moment.

“I think we’re past the point where I can deny there’s been interest, but he’s not our player and until then I can’t say much more.

“There’s moving pieces, I’m not going to deny it, and the recruitment team is putting in a shift to try to see if we can make the team stronger.

“I think there’s still a few calls coming in for some of our players as well. So we’ll see.”

Regarding Burnley being linked with 18-year-old Millwall midfielder Romain Esse, Kompany said: “I know he’s a good player, but we haven’t been active on that one.”

Connor Roberts and Manuel Benson could exit, with Kompany not ruling it out when they were mentioned to him as possible departures.

Kompany also revealed that Nathan Redmond’s season was over, the winger having undergone surgery after a “freak incident in training”.

Others missing when Burnley were last in action, the 1-1 home draw with Luton on January 12, included Sander Berge, Aaron Ramsey, Charlie Taylor, Hannes Delcroix and Jordan Beyer and Kompany said he was optimistic of “some positive news” in terms of players being available to return in Wednesday’s contest.

Treble-winners City, victorious in each of their five matches across the league and FA Cup since claiming the Club World Cup in December, could have top-scorer Erling Haaland back in Pep Guardiola’s team after 10 games out with a foot injury.

Since Kompany took charge at Burnley, they have played his old club City twice, losing 6-0 away in last term’s FA Cup and 3-0 at home in August in their first top-flight match after promotion – with Haaland scoring five times across those games.

Kompany said: “City are a phenomenal team. But I know you can’t start those games defeated.

"Even though the rest of the world maybe will have an idea that this is what the outcome will be, from our side, no – we’re going there with every desire to get the most out of this game, we have to.

“It’s going to be tough but every now and then someone does something, and that’s the mindset you need.”

Outside the Etihad Stadium is a statue of Kompany, the former City skipper who won 10 major trophies during 11 years playing for the club up to 2019.

“It’s always going to be a special game but I’m focused on my job, and my job takes too much of my days for me to not treat it in that way, with every desire to get a result for Burnley,” he said.

“The bus goes around the other way, so I won’t get to see (the statue), and that’s better for me. I don’t know if it’s a good thing but I don’t look back nearly at all on my achievements as a player, I’m only focused on what I have to do as a coach.”