Burnley are prepared to return to the Championship next season.

The Clarets are yet to select a new first-team head coach after firing Scott Parker in April, when their relegation from the Premier League was confirmed.

The Lancashire club will be aiming to choose someone capable of leading the team back to the top level at the first opportunity.

Once a coach arrives, it will most likely be a hectic few months at Turf Moor, as he will want to mould the squad to his taste through the transfer market.

Key players like as Zian Flemming, Jaidon Anthony, and Maxime Esteve will also have to make decisions about their futures, since there is suspicion about their positions at the club.

However, fans will be hoping that Kyle Walker and other first-team players will remain with the club, as Burnley hopes to finish in the top two of the Championship in 2027.

Wayne Rooney makes Kyle Walker’s World Cup claim

England nearly avoided an embarassing defeat to DR Congo in the World Cup’s round of 32 on Wednesday evening.

Following their comeback in the second half, Wayne Rooney expressed his surprise that Kyle Walker was not called up to Thomas Tuchel’s team following Tino Livramento’s injury.

The Newcastle defender was replaced by Trevoh Chalobah only days before their opening match against Croatia, but the former England international claims it should have been the Burnley full-back instead, despite the fact that he announced his retirement from international football in March.

“I think the minute Livramento got injured, I think he should have been right on the phone to Kyle Walker,” Rooney told BBC Radio.

“Kyle is still more than good enough and capable of playing for England, so I would have called him and said, ‘Listen, we need you here.'” Can you come out and help us?’ Because that may be quite costly.”

Walker’s last game for England came in a 3-1 defeat to Senegal in a friendly at the City Ground in June 2025.

The defender gained 96 caps for his country and appeared in two of their World Cup qualifiers; however, he was not called up again by Tuchel following the Senegal defeat, and he later declined to be considered for a Three Lions call-up earlier this year.

The Burnley defender also competed in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, making a total of eight matches.

Walker joined the Clarets last summer after their promotion to the Premier League, and he appeared 36 times as the team ended 19th in the table.

The 36-year-old’s contract with the Lancashire club runs until June 2027, and the players returned for pre-season earlier this week.

Kyle Walker’s time with England has ended, despite Wayne Rooney’s assertions.

Tuchel’s decision to replace Livramento with Chalobah was shocking, but not because Walker was overlooked, as his efforts for Burnley this season did not merit a call-up to the national squad.

While he has already publicly announced his retirement from international football, there is no doubt he would return if selected by Tuchel, especially given the opportunity to compete in the World Cup.

However, the defender is past his prime, and England have superior options at their disposal, particularly as Djed Spence can play on either flank, while Lewis Hall and Luke Shaw were both left at home.

Given the structure of their competition thus far, there is no evidence that the team is currently lacking someone like Walker.