Burnley Close In On Norwegian Defender

Former Dundee United defender Christian Kalvenes has been strongly linked with English Championship side Burnley, despite claiming he was returning to Norway for family reasons.

The 31-year-old`s contract with Dundee United expired at the end of the season, with Kalvenes admitting he was disappointed to be leaving Tannadice after 2-years at the club.

"I have enjoyed it so much at United and the longer you stay here the more you get to love the club," Kalvenes told the Dundee Courier in March.

"It will be tough to leave a good team that has good players and a good manager."

Kalvenes was linked with a return to his former side SK Brann earlier in the week, but former St Johnstone manager Owen Coyle is hoping to lure the defender down south, to join Burnley

A fan`s favourite during his time at Tannadice, Kalvenes was involved in one of the most controversial moments of the 07/08 campaign, after he was wrongly sent off in the 2nd PL match of the season.

Dundee United were 1-0 up against SPL rivals Kilmarnock, when inept referee Brian Winter issued a straight red-card after a perfect challenge on Steven Naismith ni the 77th minute.

The red card was rescinded, but by the time referee Brian Winter openly admitted his glaringly obvious mistake, a few days later, the damage had already been done after Kilmarnock had undeservedly won 2-1 against 10-man United,

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