I believe the argument is that if it happened nice and early, we'd have the rest of the summer and pre season to go after our next choice, and wouldn't have the threat of lost points or impending deadline taking away some of our bargaining power - we're getting quite desperate now and...
Don't know if this counts as confirmation for you
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/burnley_fc/news/11411421.Burnley_make_move_for_Irish_defender/?ref=var_0