Burnley defender and Newcastle United target James Tarkowski is a “top player”, former Premier League striker Dean Windass has told This Is Futbol.
Newcastle were, of course, recently taken over by PIF, PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media and Tarkowski looks to be at the top of their transfer shortlist.
Should Tarkowski be a priority for Newcastle?
Yes
No
According to The Telegraph, the 28-year-old centre-back is expected to be one of the new regime’s first signings. And Windass believes he would be a good acquisition, especially if they end up getting him for free next summer when his contract expires.
“He’s a no-nonsense centre-half for Burnley,” the ex-Hull City forward said to TIF. “Typical Sean Dyche, Sean was like that as a centre-half when I played against Sean. That’d be a no-brainer for me. It’d be a good free, it’d be a good free.
“They’ll want top, top players and he’s a top player, by the way. He’s a good centre-half.”
Given his Premier League experience, Tarkowski on a free transfer would absolutely be a no-brainer.
However, when you look at the predicament Newcastle are currently in, second from bottom in the table, they probably cannot wait until next summer for reinforcements. So from their perspective, they will be hoping that they can strike a deal with Burnley in the winter window.