Crystal Palace are planning a summer raid of Premier League rivals Burnley with England international James Tarkowski at the top of their wish list, according to the Mirror.
This time last year, the Clarets were not willing to accept a penny less than £50 million for a homegrown talent who had established himself as one of the most underrated defenders in the Premier League after honing his trade in the lower divisions (The Sun).
It is fair to say the transfer market was at the height of its inflated, post-Neymar madness back then. But, thanks to the ongoing global health crisis, things have changed quite substantially in the last few weeks.
It remains to be seen how much Tarkowski is worth these days but you can guarantee that a £50 million valuation is a thing of the past.
Burnley chairman Mike Garlick has already admitted to Sky that the Clarets could be hit hard in the pocket so, if Palace can put together a tempting package for their twice-capped England international, a departure from Turf Moor may be on the cards.
The Mirror reports that Tarkowski is one of three Burnley men on Palace’s radar, including winger Dwight McNeil and manager Sean Dyche.
A late-blooming 27-year-old with superb positional sense and a fine passing range, Tarkowski should have few problems adapting to Roy Hodgson’s rather old-school, well-drilled style after four years under Dyche.
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