---
title: "Burnley: Clarets could reignite their interest in Craig Dawson if James Tarkowski is sold"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/burnley-could-reignite-transfer-interest-craig-dawson-if-tarkowski-sold/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Burnley"
published: "2020-09-15T12:10:16Z"
modified: "2020-09-15T12:10:16Z"
---

# Burnley: Clarets could reignite their interest in Craig Dawson if James Tarkowski is sold

**Burnley could reignite their previous interest in Craig Dawson if [James Tarkowski](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/burnley-fc-transfer-rumours/burnley-reduce-tarkowski-asking-price-35m/) is sold in this transfer window.**

That is according to [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11708/12072130/craig-dawson-could-become-burnley-target-again-if-they-lose-james-tarkowski), who reported that the 30-year-old Watford defender could be back on the Clarets’ wish list depending on the future of their in-demand centre-back, for whom West Ham have had [two bids rejected](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11708/12067981/james-tarkowski-west-ham-have-30m-bid-for-burnley-defender-turned-down) amid continuing interest from Leicester.

As per [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11708/12072130/craig-dawson-could-become-burnley-target-again-if-they-lose-james-tarkowski), Dawson had been of interest to Burnley last summer when he was a West Brom player, with Tarkowski being targeted by Leicester at the time as a potential successor to Harry Maguire.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Dawson, a veteran of [182 Premier League appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/craig-dawson/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/121477/wettbewerb/GB1), [did not feature for the Hornets](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11708/12072130/craig-dawson-could-become-burnley-target-again-if-they-lose-james-tarkowski) in their first league game under new manager Vladimir Ivic against Middlesbrough last Friday.

The Watford man has a remarkable scoring record for someone who has played as a defender for his whole career, netting [43 times in 371 matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/craig-dawson/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/121477) (one goal per 8.63 games), and has scored a minimum of two league goals in [each of his last six league campaigns](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/craig-dawson/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/121477).

He averaged more shots per game than Tarkowski in 2019/20 ([0.9](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/73063/History/Craig-Dawson) to [0.6](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/131464/History/James-Tarkowski)) and also used the ball more efficiently than his Clarets counterpart, with a passing success rate of [77.5%](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/73063/History/Craig-Dawson) to the Burnley man’s [70.8%](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/131464/History/James-Tarkowski).

However, Tarkowski is stronger in the air, winning [5.2 headers per game](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/131464/History/James-Tarkowski) compared to Dawson’s [3.5](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/73063/History/Craig-Dawson), and the 27-year-old also wins more tackles ([1.7](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/131464/History/James-Tarkowski) to [one](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/73063/History/Craig-Dawson)) and interceptions per game ([1.7](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/131464/History/James-Tarkowski) to [1.2](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/73063/History/Craig-Dawson)) than the Watford centre-back.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

The players’ respective statistics would suggest that Tarkowski is stronger defensively than Dawson, who is also two-and-a-half years older than the Burnley centre-back and coming towards the latter stages of his career.

The Watford man boasts plenty of top-flight experience, though, and can be a potent presence in the opponents’ penalty area. Also, with Sean Dyche operating off the [joint-smallest squad in the Premier League](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/premier-league/startseite/wettbewerb/GB1), any newcomers who can be brought in would surely be appreciated.

\[freshpress-poll id=”318527″\]

The preference would unsurprisingly be to keep Tarkowski, but if that proves impossible, then Burnley could do a lot worse than snaring Dawson as his replacement.

***Burnley fans, should the Clarets consider going back in for Dawson? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below!***