---
title: "Burnley: James Tarkowski targeted by Leicester and Crystal Palace"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/burnley-james-tarkowski-transfer-target-leicester-crystal-palace/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Burnley"
published: "2020-06-16T12:20:51Z"
modified: "2020-06-16T12:20:51Z"
---

# Burnley: James Tarkowski targeted by Leicester and Crystal Palace

**Burnley could face a battle to keep James Tarkowski at the club after two Premier League sides reportedly expressed an interest in the defender.**

[The Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/leicester-crystal-palace-locked-transfer-22195274?_ga=2.222968603.1017642762.1592162015-1194075882.1560761803) reported that Leicester have renewed their interest in the 27-year-old, having been deterred by the Clarets’ £50m price tag last summer, while Crystal Palace have now entered the transfer race for the [twice-capped England international](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-tarkowski/nationalmannschaft/spieler/173504/verein_id/3299).

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

Tarkowski’s importance at Burnley is reflected in his status as an [ever-present figure](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-tarkowski/leistungsdaten/spieler/173504) in their Premier League season so far, needing just one more start to make it a third successive top-flight campaign in which he has been in the line-up for 30 or more games (as per [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/131464/History/James-Tarkowski)).

He has the highest overall average match rating of anyone in Sean Dyche’s squad with 7.11 (as per [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/184/Show/England-Burnley)) and has also been named man of the match [more regularly than any of his team-mates](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/184/Show/England-Burnley).

The 27-year-old is a colossus in the air for the Clarets, winning no fewer than [five aerial duels per game](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/131464/Show/James-Tarkowski) for his team. As noted by [The Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/leicester-crystal-palace-locked-transfer-22195274?_ga=2.222968603.1017642762.1592162015-1194075882.1560761803), he has made more headed clearances than any other Premier League player this season.

Aside from fellow [top-flight ever-present](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-mee/leistungsdaten/spieler/74810) Ben Mee, Burnley [do not have much strength in depth](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-burnley/kadernachposition/verein/1132) at centre-back. Kevin Long has played just [two league minutes](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kevin-long/leistungsdaten/spieler/111114) this term, yet that is still [two minutes more than outcast Ben Gibson has managed](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-gibson/leistungsdaten/spieler/128904), with the 27-year-old so peripheral at the club that he has been [allowed to train with former employers Middlesbrough](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11932316/ben-gibson-burnley-defender-back-training-with-middlesbrough).

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

Even if Leicester or Crystal Palace were to make an offer in the region of £50m with Burnley’s finances set to be hit by the coronavirus pandemic (as per [The Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/leicester-crystal-palace-locked-transfer-22195274?_ga=2.222968603.1017642762.1592162015-1194075882.1560761803)), Dyche would need to think about what he is losing before blindly taking the money.

\[freshpress-poll id=”304509″\]

In an area where the Clarets lack reliable depth, Tarkowski is a leader for the entire team and his performances this season show why the Foxes and Eagles are preparing to swoop for him – as well as why Burnley must stand firm and keep the ‘not for sale’ signs prominently displayed.

***Burnley fans, how difficult would it be to replace Tarkowski if he were to leave Turf Moor this summer? Share your views in the comments section below!***