Only a few days earlier, the noises coming out of his current club suggested that the reported Leeds United target could yet stay put beyond the January transfer window after all.
That was before the £16 million forgotten man was left out of the squad on Friday night.
Burnley’s clash with Championship promotion rivals Sunderland was supposed to represent Mike Tresor’s long-awaited return to action after an injury-hit spell at Turf Moor. But, as it transpired, the former KRC Genk playmaker was not even among the substitutes when Scott Parker released his team sheet in the build-up to a tense 0-0 draw in Lancashire.
Whether this spells the end for Tresor’s ill-fated Burnley career – Leeds are keen on the Belgium international and could offer him a fresh start under Daniel Farke – remains to be seen.
Either way, should Leeds United step up their interest between now and February’s transfer deadline, the Championship table-toppers will likely have to contend with competition from Italy’s top flight.
Leeds United now face Serie A battle to sign Burnley’s Mike Tresor
According to the usually reliable Gianluca di Marzio, writing on his personal website, Genoa have taken an interest in Tresor.
The Serie A outfit, currently under the stewardship of former Crystal Palace and Manchester City youth coach Patrick Vieira, are ‘pushing’ to get the talented 25-year-old through the door over the next week.
Interestingly, following their takeover by Romanian businessman Dan Sucu in December, Genoa have also been linked with Leeds striker Patrick Bamford. Tresor, five years younger than the injury-hit number nine but his confidence and reputation nosediving at Burnley, would represent another rather risky piece of business.
Another rebuilding project from a club who seem to see value in doing up damaged property.
Belgium international Tresor has been likened to Cristiano Ronaldo
There is, however, no doubt about Tresor’s talent.
Dead-ball specialist Tresor earned comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo during his time in Belgium, having topped the assist charts for the whole of European football in 2022/23 with 24 in all competitions.
“First of all, we have to address Mike’s exceptional kicking technique” his former Genk coach Michel said at the time. “He is one of the few players who has mastered the knuckleball. It’s the special kicking technique that put Cristiano Ronaldo on the map.
“It’s a way you can hit a ball hard and still have it drop sufficiently at the right time. He works hard on himself every week in training to further refine that technique.
“In addition, he has quick feet. Passing the ball correctly is one thing, but we often work together in training in using small spaces, to be able to beat a marker first through a one-on-one skill or in combination with his teammates.
“This sense for combination explains his excellent statistics for me.”
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