STEVE Cotterill admits Burnley are simply priced out of the market when it comes to players valued at considerable seven-figure sums.

The Clarets have agreed to spend £340,000 on Albanian international wideman Besart Berisha, who will complete his dream move to Turf Moor once he has been granted a work permit.

Cotterill believes the 21-year-old represents excellent value for money, considering the prices that are being asked for up-and-coming players on the domestic scene.

The Burnley boss has observed the £2million transfer of winger Jobi McAnuff from Crystal Palace to Championship rivals Watford, along with the speculated fee of £2m for Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Chris Brunt, and admits the Clarets cannot compete on that scale.

"I've looked at players like Jobi McAnuff and Chris Brunt who are quoted as two or three million pound players. We can't afford that," revealed Cotterill.

"I just thought for the money we were going to have to pay for Berisha, £340,000 was a decent deal, considering as well two German clubs had bigger bids in."

Brunt has been linked with a £2m move away from Hillsborough, with Wigan and Fulham believed to be heading the queue for the Northern Ireland international.

Recently relegated Watford shelled out an initial £1.75m for McAnuff, which will rise if the Hornets are promoted back ot the Premiership.

Those sort of sums are out of Cotterill's reach, despite the admission from Burnley's millionaire director Brendan Flood that he is prepared to spend part of his fortune on improving the team.

Flood is eager to assist Cotterill in the transfer market, but his top priority is improving the club's business infrastructure.

Although the Clarets have got out their cheque book to capture Hamburg forward Berisha, Cotterill has previously admitted that free transfers will be the focus of the club's summer transfer activity.

His first close-season signing, Hungarian international goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly, was a case in point after arriving on a free following his release from Crystal Palace.