It started with a brain wave in a heat wave.
Last month, in the restless early hours of a stifling morning – and with his club in the midst of a heavy recruitment drive for their upcoming mission Impossible – had a senior Burnley director what he initially felt a random thought: “What about Kyle Walker?”
It wasn't as crazy as it sounded. Peat Moor is not the San Siro and Burnley is absolutely not a Milan. But the 35-year-old, for all his six Premier League medals, 96 England caps and reputation as one of the best defenders of his generation, was effectively looking for new work after he was told by a grateful Manchester City that he could leave after a loan in Italy.
Despite the fact that Walker his peak years is over, few would have seen a switch to the top-flight newcomers as little more than a flight of fancy. But if you don't ask, you don't get it. After a first question about his agent, calls to manager Scott Parker and chairman Alan Pace, and a pitch was drawn up.
Location was an obvious. A move to Burnley would allow Walker, whose personal life problems have been reported well, stay close to his family in the northwest.
But what was not necessarily known outside of this bag of East Lancashire was that this was an environment that was known to the player thanks to the fact that his son plays for the Academy of the Clarets.
Walker would be well aware of the facilities in the club and their impressive, ultramodern training center, to which he has been a regular visitor. The offer of Premier League football and another challenge from another series for a serial winner was also something that they believed they could use to their advantage.
Walker wants to be the 11th man who reaches 100 England caps and there is a World Cup at the end of the season. Another guarantee they could make, what a bitter smile raised was that he would probably be busy for the next nine months.
By spending the coming season with a club that will probably fight relegation, it would be unlikely that three lion boss Thomas Tuchel would select his team in some doubt about whether Walker could still perform at the highest level.
There was a nice touch of symmetry on the subject of England. Walker's first taste of action for his country was a replacement appearance in a 1-0 win over Spain in Wembley in 2011-where he came up for non-other than Parker. The couple also played together in Tottenham, where Parker was a senior figure. The respect was already there.
And so, in an era flooded with data-driven analysis, statistics and spreadsheets, the approach was turned on by Old School testing, instead of number Crunch.
That does not mean that they do not embrace the Moneyball approach at Turf Moor. Given the finances that play and what they are against, they must. But the position was that there was little need for reconnaissance reports about this.
That also went for the history of the player of off-the-field problems. What was going on somewhere else, Walker never had his focus on the field influenced. And although some may wonder if he has lost a garden of pace, the view in Burnley's Summer War Room was that even if that was true, he would still be one of the fastest in the division.
And the figures tolerate that he was the fastest player of the Premier League at 23.2 km / h two years ago, his top speed in the season just of 21.9 km / h still joint-37th, which remains in the top seven percent of all top players.
A meeting was set up quickly, on which the field was delivered. “Once Kyle met Scott, I don't think there was somewhere else he wanted to go,” explained a well -placed source. “He was explained how important he would be and what the club is trying to do. He was told that his experience and leadership would be vital to us. '
Walker was sold in one meeting. Parker was so impressive that he quickly agreed that, despite the interest from elsewhere, including Turkish giant Fenerbahce, he wanted to go to Burnley.
On the financial side they had to become creative. Although the finer details remain confidential, it is safe to say that there is a huge stimulus when Burnley avoids relegation. Walker remains well paid – in the region of £ 160,000 a week – and his arrival is proof of Pace's ambition.
The reimbursement was less a problem. Burnley has a long history of dealing with their great neighbors. For example, if James Trafford moves to Newcastle United this summer, both clubs will come up with a sale clause that was inserted when the keeper of the young England moved from the city. The relationship between the two is strong and a deal, for a reported £ 5 million, was quickly beaten.
WhatsApp reports then followed. They had done it within three weeks. Kyle Walker was a Burnley player.
The task was now to try to keep it silent to achieve maximum impact for the big announcement. Another operation was launched. Walker's Medical was arranged at a separate location away from the club. Medical staff were told not to wear club colors and did not know who the player they would test was until they saw him. Eyebrrauwen were raised when they saw who was on the other side of the door.
The media behind the announcement were also shifted from Burnley. The Media team of the Clarets, recently reinforced by the arrival of the new communication head Ian Taylor from West Ham United, was told to be on Manchester Airport, where a meeting room was set up. Often media teams have to do their research into newcomers and their background. It was not necessary here.
Burnley has a history of making unique revelation videos. This time Lionel Ritchie would be the inspiration. A mock-up from the epic video until 1983 Smash Hello was planned, with Walker to play the role of the female student who creates a clay image of the legendary crooner. But there was a nervousness about whether Walker would buy what they had planned.
They don't have to worry. “Brilliant,” said Walker, who threw himself in the role after taking a two -year contract. Although his acting skills may require Polish, there can be no fault in a clip that would become viral.
The buy-in was not limited to his entrance. “He immediately got the club,” explained an insider. “His career has been fantastic, he played for some of the biggest clubs in some of the greatest stages, but in essence he is a working -class boy from Sheffield who knows what Burnley is about.”
According to those who are close to the situation, he has been 'a relief' away from the field, with the willingness to participate in social media output that is not often seen with those on elite level.
Burnley went to the Algarve on Sunday for training for the season and Walker was one of those who were on a bike ride that evening. The group would have a quiz evening on Monday. He was seen that he exchanged jokes with back room staff and seems to have made himself at home immediately.
It feels for those who work there, that he has been there for years. He has already become a member of a carpool and has reported training rather than necessary.
There is also a serious side. Walker quickly started proving his new teammates. The expectation level is high. He is expected to lead on and next to the field and will become a member of the Senior Group that forms a connection between players and management.
They all pick the benefits. New kit sales have seen a bump. Even the most loyal followers of the club have been taken back by the signing.
But there may be other benefits before a ball is kicked. Although it can be snobbish, there is a certain view of Burnley and the type of player of the player they can attract. The arrival of Walker can break those perceptions well and open doors elsewhere.
Already, agents of players you had previously thought they were outside the reach of Burnley, are supposed to have had contact. It is thought that Walker has done his bit and contacts those he knows who are looking for a move to let them know why following his lead might not be a bad idea.
At a certain moment this week, Walker will perform his initiation number, something that he has mentioned with anxious moments after completing his medical.
“They play for 65,000 every week, but they are still being worked up on the sprouting of a song for a few teammates and back room staff,” the Insider added.
How it goes down is still to be seen. But while they try to do the opposite of it, the hope is that Walker's arrival may soon be able to sing Burnley from a different hymn magazine.