Premier League giants Liverpool are apparently showing keen interest in acquiring the services of James Tarkowski, according to reports.
After guiding his team to a somewhat impressive fourth-placed finish in the league whilst reaching the final of the UEFA Champions League, head coach Jurgen Klopp is eager to bolster his side this summer. Reports claim that the Champions League finalists want to bring in three players this summer, with Burnley’s James Tarkowski being identified as their main defensive target.
Even though Liverpool made a record-breaking move for Southampton defender Virgin van Dijk earlier this year, the Reds are still quite unsure over Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip.
Both the defenders have had a mixed season at Anfield this campaign, often failing to maintain consistency throughout the course of the season. While Matip’s underwhelming performances haven’t helped his cause in getting regular first team minutes for Liverpool, Lovren’s lack of consistency still makes Liverpool extremely fragile at the back.
Therefore, the centre-back position could once again be the priority for the Merseyside giants in this upcoming summer transfer window and the addition of James Tarkowski could prove to be a good one for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Following Burnley’s promotion to the top flight, James Tarkowski has played a vital part in Burnley’s road so far. This season, in particular, the former Brentford defender has been an ever-present figure in the Clarets’ defensive backline, featuring in 31 matches. The 25-year-old has built a formidable defensive partnership with Ben Mee, which has been one of the key reasons behind their success in English top flight.
A bargain buy from Brentford in the summer of 2016, James Tarkowski is currently one of the top English defenders in the Premier League. Known for his ability to block moves, the 25-year-old is a dogged defender, who a sense of calmness to the back, unlike Lovren.
Tarkowski is perfectly suited to Klopp’s style as he can be the more robust centre-back, alongside the more technical van Dijk. In fact, his style of play is ideally suited to partner up someone like van Dijk at the back.
While his no-nonsense defending will make sure Liverpool remain solid in defensive, even during counter-attacks, van Dijk’s immense ability with the ball will help them with their build-up game, ultimately making Jurgen Klopp’s side much more dynamic when it comes to the defensive department.
Furthermore, the 25-year-old can also increase the depth of Liverpool’s defensive department should Klopp opt for Dejan Lovren as his main centre-back. Therefore, a move for this highly rated defender definitely makes sense for the Merseyside giants, as they look to make an even bigger impact next season.