£3m record fee for Hibs striker

"... I thought this was the right place to develop my career."
As expected, Burnley  have captured Scotland and Hibernian striker Steven Fletcher. As reported earlier today on this site, the player had gone to Turf Moor to speak to Owen Coyle after the clubs had agreed a transfer fee of £2.8m rising to £3.5m depending on appearances. The 22-year-old has agreed a four year deal with the clarets for a club record fee of £3m. New Hibs manager John Hughes will be bitterly disappointed to lose the striker whom he had hoped would have stayed and worked with him at Easter Road. Fletcher still had four years of his contract to run at Hibs but has always expressed his desire to play in the English Premier League. The player was disappointed when Hibs blocked his move to Celtic in January but now he will move to Owen Coyle's (who was linked to the Celtic job) Burnley and their venture into the Premier League after a 33 year wait.

Fletcher believes he will grow as a player under Coyle and said: "As soon as I heard that Burnley were after me, and knowing Owen Coyle as I do, I thought this was the right place to develop my career. The opportunity came along in January for me to join Celtic, but Hibs did not think it was the right time to move on. When the chance arrived to come to the Premier League and play for a club like Burnley, I was glad they accepted that and let me come down".

It will be a huge blow for Hibs to lose such a quality player who scored 52 goals in nearly 190 appearances for the club and also scored the winning goal for Scotland against Iceland at Hampden in April's world cup qualifying match. If Yogi gets some of the transfer money maybe he can land a striker  to replace Fletcher but I'm afraid they are few and far between of that quality. Coyle has already been in the transfer market today having signed Tyrone Mears from Derby County for £500,000. So hopefully Hughes can use the transfer money to enhance his squad and keep Hibs as top six contenders.
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