Arsenal defender Daniel Ballard has failed to agree terms with Burnley after arriving at the club for a medical.
Ballard has spent three consecutive years out on loan from Arsenal, and spent last season in the Championship with Millwall. The 22-year-old became a regular in the London side, and the Northern Ireland international was close to sealing a permanent move away from Arsenal.
Ballard was set to have a medical at Burnley, who recently appointed Vincent Kompany as their manager, but according to The Athletic, he failed to agree terms with the club.
The prospect of working with one of the best centre-backs to have graced the Premier League must have been exciting for Ballard, being a defender himself, but unfortunately, terms couldn’t be agreed.
Dropping down a league to progress his career is probably the smart move for Ballard, who stands little chance of making the grade at Arsenal as it stands.
Ballard has spent time on loan in League Two, League One, and most recently in the Championship, where he excelled with an impressive season for Millwall.
Due to Arsenal having Ben White, Gabriel, Rob Holding, and William Saliba at the club, the 22-year-old needs to make the tough decision to leave the club he’s been at since he was eight years old.
Silly move on his part as the chance to work with company would have improved his game and put him in the shop window.Oh well, back to Arsenal reserves it is.😃
Would be interesting to understand what Burnley offered and what Ballard was asking for. Seemed a great move all around, but perhaps Ballard and / or his agent got greedy?
I use God name to beg the hierarchy to stop Arteta! He is destroying Arsenal !! He never know good players. To him good players are the ones that plays left only. Ballard is our best defender by a distance. Not Ben White and Holding. The board must do everything to stop Arteta’s madness. Remember that he never knew how good Nketiah was until his luxury player, Lacazette, who never improve the squad, got injured. I’m afraid of Arteta’s lack of technical know how.