BURNLEY face fierce competition for Jack Cork’s signature from newly-promoted Southampton, although national newspaper reports suggesting he is set to join the Saints for £1million seem wide of the mark.

Chelsea were said to be ready to sell the midfielder for the seven-figure sum, even though the Premier League giants had already stated they would accept offers of £750,000 for a player who has been on their books since he was just nine years old, but has never broken into the first team.

Although Blackpool have also joined the chase for the England Under 21 international, sources on the south coast say it is unlikely Southampton would have gone so far over the asking price, while there was even more surprise at the suggestion he would be offered a reported £15,000 a week.

Such a wage would blow the lid on the Clarets’ salary cap, doubling that of their top earner in the Championship, and price him out of their market.

But I understand Burnley remain in negotiations with Chelsea, and after spending a season and a half on loan at Turf Moor, Cork’s heart is in East Lancashire.

On paper, Burnley would be his first choice. But if the Clarets cannot match their rivals’ on the financial front the decision could be taken out of his hands.

Either way, a move for Cork does not appear imminent after he touched down in Denmark with the England Under 21 squad ahead of the European Championship finals.

Cork was named in Stuart Pearce’s 23-man squad,.

Also, Southampton manager Nigel Adkins is thought to be away at the moment, and nothing would proceed without his involvement.

It is more likely that Cork’s future will be decided on his return from international duty.