Burnley manager Sean Dyche is concerned Newcastle United will submit an offer for a last-ditch deal to sign James Tarkowski before the January transfer window closes on Monday.
That’s according to The Telegraph, who report Dyche fears the Toon returning to raid Turf Moor after poaching Chris Wood. The Magpies activated a £25m release clause in the 30-year-old’s contract, as Eddie Howe rushed to replace Callum Wilson following his injury.
Howe is still keen to spend before the January sales shut next Monday to improve United’s defence. The St James’ Park hierarchy expect a manic end to the market, having so far failed with their top targets. It will take a huge bid to tempt Sevilla to sell Diego Carlos now.
Dyche is worried Newcastle’s desperation for defensive reinforcements sees Howe target a late transfer for Burnley’s Tarkowski. However, the expectation is the England international stays at Turf Moor until the summer. He will then leave as a free agent once his deal ends.
Burnley will not give Tarkowski to Newcastle easily in the last week of the transfer window, either. The Daily Mail report the Clarets want close to £30m for a centre-back who has five-months left on his contract. He also does not have a release clause in his deal, unlike Wood.
No surprise Burnley want to keep Tarkowski from Newcastle’s transfer clutches
Burnley are trying to price Newcastle out of Tarkowski’s transfer whilst Dyche battles Howe for Premier league survival. The Clarets sit bottom of the table with three-points less than the Magpies. But the Turf Moor outfit have played three fewer games than the Toon.
The Clarets also have a superior goal difference of minus-11 to minus-22 thanks to their far greater defensive record. Burnley have only conceded 27 goals in 18 games, but Newcastle have shipped 43 in 21. Only Norwich have allowed more than the Magpies with 45 in 22.
Tarkowski has featured in 17 of Burnley’s fixtures, so it’s no surprise Dyche is loath to lose the Newcastle target. But the centre-back – who Dyche has called ‘outstanding’ – wants to move to St James’ Park, a stance The Telegraph note the United hierarchy are aware of.
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