---
title: "Aston Villa: Talks held for James Tarkowski"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-sky-sports-transfer-update-james-tarkowski/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2022-05-24T18:15:41Z"
modified: "2022-05-24T18:15:41Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Talks held for James Tarkowski

**[Aston Villa](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/) have held talks with Burnley defender James Tarkowski over a possible move to the Midlands, according to [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/12619894/aston-villa-transfer-news-boubacar-kamara-signs-five-year-deal-at-villa-park-as-club-open-talks-with-james-tarkowski).**

### The Lowdown: Tarkowski’s contract situation

The centre-back has been on the books at Turf Moor since [2016](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-tarkowski/transfers/spieler/173504) and has made [219](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-tarkowski/leistungsdaten/spieler/173504) appearances for the Clarets, [37](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-tarkowski/leistungsdaten/spieler/173504) of which came during the 2021/22 campaign.

[Aston Villa latest updates!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/aston-villa-latest-updates-2/)

The 29-year-old couldn’t prevent relegation for Burnley on the final day of the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) season and he now looks set to leave the club over the coming weeks. His contract expires at the end of [June](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-tarkowski/profil/spieler/173504), and it looks as if a free transfer to Villa Park could now be on the cards.

### The Latest: Villa hold talks with Tarkowski

[Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/12619894/aston-villa-transfer-news-boubacar-kamara-signs-five-year-deal-at-villa-park-as-club-open-talks-with-james-tarkowski) shared a transfer update on Monday evening after Villa secured a free transfer for Marseille midfielder [Boubacar Kamara](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2022/may/23/villa-announce-boubacar-kamara-signing/).

They relayed the news on the French midfielder and also added that the club have also held talks with Tarkowski, although Villa are expected to face competition from a number of Premier League sides for the Burnley defender.

\[freshpress-poll id=”393243″\]

### The Verdict: Smart move?

Tarkowski would bring plenty of Premier League [experience](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-tarkowski/detaillierteleistungsdaten/spieler/173504) with him to Villa Park, should a move materialise, so signing him without the expense of a transfer fee could be a wise move by Steven Gerrard.

The 41-year-old has already taken advantage of the free transfer market by signing Kamara, and it looks as if a defensive overhaul could now be on the cards in the Midlands.

[Reports](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-summer-transfer-plans-26675697?_ga=2.114921735.1699586530.1649662137-1504247392.1626470296) have suggested that the futures of Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings are in doubt, which could leave Gerrard with just Calum Chambers and Kortney Hause as [senior](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/kader/verein/405) centre-back options.

Therefore, landing Tarkowski for nothing could be a smart move, and one which also wouldn’t eat into the manager’s [£150m](https://www.football365.com/news/aston-villa-back-gerrard-massive-summer-spending-spree) transfer kitty from NSWE.

***In other news: [NSWE now eyeing another defender; Villa chiefs sent to club after Gerrard approves](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/aston-villa-transfer-news-rangers-calvin-bassey/)***