BURNLEY are interested in Charlton Athletic No.1 Nick Pope as they seek to boost their goalkeeping ranks ahead of the Premier League season.

The 24-year-old played against the Clarets on the final day of the Championship season although any deal for Pope is unlikely to take place until the Addicks have a new manager in place.

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It is understood Burnley have also shown interest in Southend United’s Daniel Bentley.

The 22-year-old is out of contract at Roots Hall but will still command a fee as he is under 24 and has been offered a deal to stay at Southend.

Bentley was the subject of an offer from Queens Park Rangers last summer, with the Hoops having a £1.25million bid turned down, and he has been linked with a number of Premier League and Championship clubs this summer.

The former Arsenal youngster has already made more than 150 Football League appearances for Southend and Roots Hall boss Phil Brown has said he is resigned to losing Bentley.

Tom Heaton has been Burnley’s undisputed number one since he arrived at the start of the 2013/14 season, making 130 successive league starts.

Experienced Scotland international Matt Gilks, who also arrived at Turf Moor ahead of the Clarets’ last Premier League season, is out of contract at the end of this term and has been shown around Scottish Premier League side Hearts’ training ground with a view to a move.

When Gilks, who is almost certain to leave the Clarets in the summer, suffered an injury earlier this year former Blackburn Rovers stopper Paul Robinson was brought in as cover for Heaton, but the 36-year-old’s deal is also set to expire.

If both Gilks and Robinson move on it will leave Burnley short of cover for Heaton, who this week was named in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the European Championships.

Pope came through the ranks at Ipswich Town but was released at the age of 16 and stepped down to non-league with Bury Town.

He moved to Charlton in 2011 and after several loan spells he has established himself at The Valley this season, featuring 28 times as the Addicks dropped out of the Championship.

Pope has two years left on his Charlton deal, but with most of their squad still under contract the incoming boss at The Valley could be under pressure to reduce the size of the squad and, potentially, the wage bill.

José Riga resigned as Charlton boss in the aftermath of Burnley’s title-clinching 3-0 win on the final day and the south London club are yet to appoint a successor after talks with Chris Wilder broke down before the manager who guided Northampton to the League Two title opted to take charge of Sheffield United.