Safri is a 30-year-old Morrocan international central midfielder and playmaker. Strong in the tackle, he typically sits in front of the back four and launches a range of short and long passes. With Burley not able to secure Guthrie back on loan, he was looking for a midfielder with energy and an eye for a pass.
Safri boasts a powerful shot, but is far from prolific in front of goal, doing much of his work from deep. He did of course score THAT goal against Newcastle, an outrageous piledriver of a strike from 35 yards that gets better every time you see it.
He has Premiership experience with Coventry and Norwich, but is also well acquainted with the Championship. As a Morrocan international he is likely to be missing for the African Nations, a concern if he does become the fulcrum of our side.
With money so tight at the club, it is something of a surprise that we have forked out a transfer fee, rather than resort to the loan market, even if the reported fee is a modest £250-300k.
Inevitably this leads to questions both about the numbers of central midfielders at the club and if Burley will be forced to sell to balance the finances. The club now has Wright, Viafara, Licka, Idiakez, Surman, Pele and even youngster Lloyd James as options in central midfield.
You could argue that Lloyd James is too young, Idiakez too injured, Pele too much a defender and Surman too much a winger, but there still look too many players for too few places. Speculation has arisen around the future of Viafara, withdrawn from the Lazio game's team sheet due to the classic 'mystery injury' and yet to appear for the club in pre-season.
West Brom have been linked with a move for Viafara as well as Safri, so there is a certain logic to one-in one-out. Viafara is a hero for many fans, adding much needed bite to the centre of midfield, but is not a classic Burley pass and move player.
Burley worked hard with him last season to improve his passing and shooting, but may feel that a million plus bid is too good to turn down, having admitted he needs to 'wheel and deal' and to bring in another central defender.
The need for a central defender is yet more pressing with news that Claus Lundekvam's ankle injury is still troubling him and may require a further operation. Burley is scouring the Premiership to pick up another central defender on loan alongside Bennett.
Ideally Burley would look to move on the talented but increasingly injury prone Idiakez to fund the two sets of wages, but with Idiakez out with another hamstring injury, one of our most bankable midfielders in Viafara may have to go to steady the ship.