£45m man, touted for Liverpool, says he will not be signing a new contract

James Tarkowski TEAMtalk

James Tarkowski’s future at Burnley looks bleak after the centre-back revealed he has no plans to sign a new contract.

The 27-year-old England defender is out of contract in June 2022 and the Clarets have been talking to him over a new deal.

Tarkowski was a target for Leicester and West Ham in the summer and both are believed to have lodged bids for the player.

Leicester, who also approached Tarkowski  in January, made a £30m bid for Tarkowski in the summer, according to the PA News Agency.

West Ham also saw a couple of bids rejected. Burnley were said to be holding out for £35m up front, plus £10m in add-ons.

Tarkowski remained at Turf Moor, but with his contract running down Burnley may be forced to sell the player rather than lose him for free.

Tarkowski told The Telegraph: “Burnley offered me a contract near the start of last season, which, for me personally, it was nowhere near what I was going to sign and I think the club understood. And they’ve come back again this year, and still, for me, it’s just not right.

 

 

“There is nothing I have heard or has been put to me that makes me think there is a scenario in which I would sign a new contract at Burnley.

“That can change, but currently, that is the situation.”

Burnley boss Sean Dyche was confident of keeping the player, when he was asked last month.

“He (Tarkowski) is an important player to us, he’s a very good player,” Dyches told Sky Sports.

“He’s a player who continues to develop and unless I’m told differently by the powers that be at the club he will be here. He’s certainly not part of that group that we think is going to leave.”

Tarkowski a ‘decent’ option for Liverpool

James Tarkowski TEAMtalk

Earlier this week Chris Kirkland claimed Tarkowski would be a “decent” option for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

The Reds are still said to be considering bringing in another defender after Virgil van Dijk was effectively ruled out for the season with an ACL injury.

Joel Matip, Fabinho and youngsters Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams have all filled in for Van Dijk so far. However, Klopp may still try to add some more experience in the position.

Big names such as David Alaba, Dayot Upamecano and Kalidou Koulibaly have all been linked with an Anfield switch. But Kirkland feels that Clarets ace Tarkowski would be a good option.

The former stopper thinks Tarkowski  may be a useful home-grown addition, telling FootballFanCast, as cited by Goal: “Obviously there was a lot of talk about Tarkowski at Burnley.

“I like him, I think he’s decent. You can’t go, ‘well will he do what Van Dijk does?’ Because that’s impossible, nobody does that.”