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Scott Arfield, Dean Marney to leave Burnley in summer - Sean Dyche

Long-serving midfielders Scott Arfield and Dean Marney will leave Burnley this summer, manager Sean Dyche has confirmed.

Marney, 34, will end an eight-year association with the Clarets, while Arfield, 29, has spent the past five years at Turf Moor and now looks bound for his boyhood club Rangers.

Defender Kevin Long is the only player in Dyche's first-team squad that has been with Burnley longer than Marney, while Arfield has also enjoyed a lengthy spell in east Lancashire, having won two promotions.

Marney has not played a senior game since suffering a serious knee injury against Arsenal in January 2017, but Arfield has made 18 top-flight appearances this term.

Speaking about the pair, Dyche said: "Both tremendous servants for the club and if their futures can be aligned in a simple process then we would obviously be open to that.

"It's important for any player here -- we try and be really fair with them -- but particularly ones who have done what they've done -- for themselves, for the team, for me, for the club. Fantastic servants.

"Rangers came through and asked us about Scotty Arfield, what his position was. Scotty was a boyhood Rangers fan. That one's pretty simple in its form -- in the sense that If they want to speak to him, we said, 'Yes, of course, we understand it.'

"And Dean Marney's searching for the next challenge, what's coming his way and a couple of managers that have spoken to him and the possibilities.

"He's fit, he's well. He's been involved with us. We're certainly respectful of these people -- we are with everyone but these are two players who have done a lot for this football club. Obviously, we hope that things work out in their favour.''

Marney and Arfield were both regulars in Burnley's first promotion campaign under Dyche and the latter scored the Clarets' first goal back in the Premier League the following term.

Marney made 21 Premier League starts last season prior to his injury, but has been pushed down the pecking order now Dyche has Jeff Hendrick, Jack Cork, Ashley Westwood and Steven Defour available as central-midfield options.

"I must say he's come back strong [from his injury],'' Dyche added.

"He's a fantastic athlete, has a real demand, a strong-mindedness of what the challenge is as a midfield player.

"I think we've got some good players in there as well and Deano is a good player, but we can only carry so many before you start thinking, 'That's too many.'

"Deano's at the end of his contract -- sometimes it's just the natural fact of his contract running out. We've got other players under contract that I feel are just in front of him at the moment.

"He's still a very, very good player. I think he'll do a very good job wherever he goes next.''

Burnley play Brighton on Saturday and could secure a place in next season's Europa League qualifiers if they win and Leicester drop points, or if they draw, Leicester lose and Everton drop points.

Neither Ben Mee (shin) or Arfield (calf) will be able to return.

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