---
title: "Aston Villa: Josh Holland makes James Tarkowski claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-josh-holland-james-tarkowski-transfer-gossip/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Clubbe"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2022-05-15T09:05:46Z"
modified: "2022-05-15T09:05:46Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Josh Holland makes James Tarkowski claim

**[Aston Villa](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/) should turn to Burnley defender James Tarkowski in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Josh Holland.**

### The lowdown: Leader required

Steven Gerrard recently [admitted](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/apr/08/steven-gerrard-aston-villa-captain-news) that he would be ‘working on’ adding senior squad members in the transfer window, failing to rule out naming a new captain for the 2022/23 season to replace Tyrone Mings.

Despite the manager’s reservations about the 29-year-old, Mings has completed 90 minutes on [23 occasions](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tyrone-mings/leistungsdatentrainer/spieler/253677/plus/0/saison/2021/verein/405/trainer_id/51276) in the Premier League since Gerrard’s arrival at Villa Park, missing just one match in that time.

[Aston Villa latest news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/aston-villa-latest-news/)

However, with doubts remaining over the long-term captain at the club, one top-flight stalwart has been tipped to do the job…

### The latest: Holland suggests Tarkowski

Speaking to [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/88006854-aston-villa-exceptional-50k-a-week-star-could-become-captain-at-villa-park), Holland dismissed the idea of bringing Rangers captain James Tavernier to Villa to take the armband and instead cited Burnley colossus Tarkowski as an ideal target.

The journalist said: “If you bring in James Tavernier, is he going to get in over Matty Cash? And, you know, a captain who’s not playing.

“I think if we’re talking about captain replacements who they can bring in, James Tarkowski is a good shout. His contract runs out at Burnley this summer, whether they stay up, I still don’t think he will stay at the club; you’d like to think they would have confirmed it by now.”

Newcastle United and West Ham United have both been [extensively linked](https://www.teamtalk.com/newcastle-united/james-tarkowski-transfer-update-newcastle-close-swoop-burnley-star-rivals-drop-interest) with a move for the 29-year-old in recent months as the former Brentford ace prepares to leave Turf Moor as a free agent.

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### The verdict: Shrewd move

A vastly experienced operator with [192 top-flight matches](https://www.premierleague.com/players/8143/James-Tarkowski/overview) under his belt, Tarkowski has also been recognised at international level, earning [two caps](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-tarkowski/nationalmannschaft/spieler/173504/verein_id/3299) for England under Gareth Southgate.

This season, the Mancunian has made [35 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-tarkowski/leistungsdaten/spieler/173504) across all competitions for the Clarets, taking the armband on 11 occasions in the absence of club captain Ben Mee.

The no-nonsense defender, who was hailed as [‘outstanding’](https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/15259045.sean-dyche-hails-outstanding-james-tarkowski-battle-places-burnley-side-hots/) by ex-Burnley boss Sean Dyche, has earned an impressive 7.17 [Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/player/james-tarkowski/145188) rating in the current Premier League campaign, winning 6.9 duels, completing 5.3 clearances and making 1.8 tackles per game.

\[freshpress-poll id=”390645″\]

Combined with Tarkowski’s leadership and experience, that form makes him a worthwhile prospective capture for Gerrard and the Villans this summer, particularly as a free agent.

***In other news: [NSWE now close to agreeing deal for another midfielder alongside Coutinho](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/aston-villa-transfer-news-ewan-simpson-deal/)***