Newly-promoted Premier League side Fulham are the latest entrant in the race to sign Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski.
According to the Daily Mail, Fulham have joined Everton and Aston Villa in the race to sign Burnley defender James Tarkowski. The England international’s contract with the Clarets is set to expire next month and he will be free to join any other club on a free deal.
The 29-year-old has been with Burnley since joining them from Brentford in 2016 and has made 219 appearances for them across competitions. The centre-back took just a season in instating himself in the centre of the defence for the Clarets and he remained a regular until this season, which didn’t turn out well for the club.
Long-term manager Sean Dyche was sacked with the club flirting with relegation, which eventually came as Burnley failed to register a much-needed win on the final day, going down 2-1 to Newcastle as Leeds United won their last encounter of the league season to avoid the drop.
The relegation has further dented Burnley’s chances of keeping Tarkowski at Turf Moor. The defender is expected to move on a free transfer with potential suitors lining up.
Fulham regained promotion to the Premier League by finishing top of the Championship this season. They are eager to add players with prior experience in the English top-flight and Tarkowski fits the bill. The defender has spent six seasons in the league with Burnley and could be a vital addition to the Cottagers’ squad.
Everton and Aston Villa are also on the lookout for defenders, and signing a player of Tarkowski’s pedigree on a free deal is too good an opportunity to pass. The Toffees have lacked a leadership figure at the heart of the defence, something that they can address with the addition of Tarkowski in the summer.
As for Aston Villa, Steven Gerrard is looking to add more quality to his centre-back department with Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa not performing consistently enough. Tarkowski, to that end, has emerged as a viable target for the Villans. Given the rising interest in his services, the 29-year-old is set to be the subject of a transfer tug-of-war come the summer window.
