According to The Mirror, Newcastle look set to sign James Tarkowski on a free transfer this summer.
In a new ‘exclusive’ released by James Nursey today, he claims that West Ham have now given up hope of bringing the Burnley defender to the London Stadium as they believe he is on his way to St James’ Park.
The report states that Tarkowski is one of Eddie Howe’s ‘major transfer targets’ this summer, with him set to quit Turf Moor when his contract expires at the end of the season – whether they stay up or not.
It’s also said that we are willing to offer the 29-year-old a ‘big rise’ on his current £50,000-a-week wages at Burnley.
If true an the twice capped England international ends up on Tyneside, this could be deemed a smart piece of business and clever way of working within FFP restrictions, bringing in a Premier League proven defender who could replace the likes of Ciaran Clark and Federico Fernandez – two centre-backs expected to leave this summer.
It isn’t a big name arrival, but he improves our squad and could even be a Jamaal Lascelles replacement should our club captain – who has struggled for game time of late – also move on.
Tarkowski was heavily linked with a move to Tyneside prior to the January window, with The Telegraph claiming he could be the first signing of the Saudi era, however it seems Burnley preferred to lose him on a free than sell him to one of their biggest relegation rivals at the time.
“a Premier League proven defender.”
The idea that we can be world beaters by bringing in free transfers from relegation battling clubs is a seriously flawed one.
You will no doubt argue that we are doing it in stages but there is no logical step that includes bringing in someone like Tarkowski in the summer, in the same way we would not even consider bringing in Chris Wood in the summer.
Tarkowski was a target in January when we were desperately searching for defenders to shore up our back line and keep us in the Prem.
Now that particular mission has been accomplished it’s onwards and upwards, and I doubt it will include free transfers from struggling teams.
Daveys **** mate(Quote)
I thought Newcastle would be Aiming for better players.Who ever suggested bringing in Chris wood should be Sacked.He is awful.
Jonboy(Quote)
To clarify, I am saying he is a solid free signing to replace Clark / Fernandez or Lascelles as fourth choice.
I won’t be happy if he’s starting every week.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
When we went down Liverpool signed wijnaldum from us a relegated side. If we’d gone down this year, burn and maxi and tripper would have been poached immediately. Tarkowski is Burnleys best defender. At one point he was in the England squad. If everyone in the Burnley team had his qualities, professionalism and ability, Burnley would be nowhere near the relegation zone. I heard the same stuff about Burn before we signed him, yet he’s been immense for us and a key reason behind our revival. I for one would be pleased with this signing. I would have no problem seeing him in our starting lineup. He’s better than Lascelles, Clarke and Fernandez. He could certainly challenge Burn and schar for a place.
John(Quote)
seriously some of our fans need to get over themselves here we are not at the stage of attracting up to six world class players howe has said its evolution not revolution stavley has said it will be a sustainable and sensible build would be great to get six style bruno signings but due to financial fair play and not being in champions league is a huge barrier for us at moment and the premier league would hit us like a ton of bricks if we broke the fair play rules unlike everton so making the squad stronger with players like tarkowski on a free is a no brainer and it frees up the cash to invest in players of a good age which seems to be the plan and personally still think we need to sign players who know the league eg raphina calvert_lewin kalvin phillips joe gomez dean henderson just to name some that could take us to the next level and if we do manage to pull someone of the ilk of nunez and a botman great
Darren Bebb(Quote)
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quordle(Quote)