Premier League side Aston Villa are reportedly interested in signing 29-year-old Burnley defender James Tarkowski in a Bosman move.
According to The Telegraph’s John Percy, Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard is keen to add a central defender to his squad this summer and has identified James Tarkowski as a potential signing. The Burnley centre-back’s contract with the Clarets is set to expire this summer, and the 29-year-old English international will available on a Bosman move.
Aston Villa defender Enzi Konsa suffered a knee injury earlier this month, which could keep him out of first-team action for the foreseeable future. The Villans claim that the defender could be out for up to 16 weeks, which could leave them short-handed for the start of the 2022/23 season.
John Percy claims that Gerrard had been on the lookout for central defenders even before Konsa’s injury, and a move for Tarkowski has been discussed at Aston Villa. The English international has been with Burnley since 2016, but his stay with the Clarets seems to be coming to an end this summer.
Since his €4 million move from Brentford in 2016, the 29-year-old defender has made 218 appearances for the club, chipping in seven goals and providing five assists. Tarkowski has been an integral part of the Burnley setup since, making the centre-back spot his own as the club cemented their spot in the Premier League after gaining promotion ahead of the 2016/17 season.
Steven Gerrard wants to sign a new centre-back this summer (this was the plan before Ezri Konsa’s injury, which Villa hope is not as bad as first feared). Burnley’s James Tarkowski is a free agent this summer and has been discussed, but options on the position are open #avfc
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) May 18, 2022
Aston Villa, on the other hand, have had a solid season under Gerrard and are 14th in the league table ahead of the final matchday. They have 45 points from 37 matches, three points behind tenth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion. And if results go their way, the Villans could well finish in the top half, provided they beat Manchester City in their final match of the season.
If Aston Villa do win, they could also help Gerrard’s former side Liverpool to the Premier League title, with the Reds just two points off top-placed Manchester City. The Merseyside giants will face Wolverhampton Wanderers in their final league match of the season.
It remains to be seen whether Aston Villa manage to land Tarkowski in a Bosman move this summer. Newcastle United, West Ham United and Fulham are also interested in the 29-year-old English international. Everton are also said to be keeping tabs on the Burnley centre-back.
Well it’s goodbye to all the brilliant youngsters at Villa.
WE will have the oldest team in the league coming out in wheelchairs by the time GERARDS finished