Crystal Palace are lining up a move for Burnley defender James Tarkowski, as per reports.
The 27-year-old has been with the Premier League side since 2016, having joined from Brentford, and has gone on to become an England international after his impressive performances for the Clarets.
As per Mirror Football, Palace will have to battle it out with Leicester City to sign the defender. The Foxes were previously interested in the defender, but Burnley wanted £50 million for him.
Tarkowski has made over 130 appearances for Burnley, becoming a vital part of Sean Dyche’s squad.
The centre-back’s current deal with Burnley expires in two years’ time in 2022. He has so far made two appearances for the England national team, debuting in 2018.
James Tarkowski – A good option for Crystal Palace?
James Tarkowski has been one of the most consistent defenders in the Premier League over the last few seasons. The England international is an old-school central defender, who heads and kicks anything that comes his way or into the dangerous areas while defending, and often puts his body on the line.
A strong blocker and tackler, Tarkowski has averaged 1.7 tackles and 1.7 interceptions a game in the Premier League, and a whopping 5.1 clearances per game.
He is a defender who believes in the “safety first” approach, and his no-nonsense approach will help the Palace defence. He has matured as a defender, and has good Premier League experience.
Tarkowski could be a very good option for Crystal Palace, who have an ageing backline that needs an injection of fresh blood. The likes of Gary Cahill and James Tomkins are vastly experienced, but should make way for a younger defender like Tarkowski, while Mamadou Sakho’s injury issues have not helped the club.
At 27, Tarkowski is at the perfect age to make the transition from Burnley to Crystal Palace, having experienced life in the Premier League over the last few seasons. He would add stability, determination, and solid defending to the Palace backline, and he could serve the club for at least the next five years or even more.
The Eagles need to overhaul their squad in the summer and that could start with established Premier League players like Tarkowski.
Stats via Whoscored
