According to a recent report by the Sun, Liverpool are lining up a loan move for Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski during this January transfer window. The same report has revealed that the Reds are looking to cope with an injury crisis in central defence and are exploring the possibility of bringing in the English talent on loan as an immediate solution.
However, the Sun also claims that the Clarets are reluctant to part ways with their prized asset on a short-term basis but would only let Tarkowski leave if a bid in the region of £50m comes in for the player.
The 26-year-old has arguably been Burnley’s best player so far this season after he put in a series of commanding displays at the back for Sean Dyche’s team. Tarkowski has made 24 matches for the Clarets this term and has three goals to his name across all competitions. He has proven his worth at the top level for a couple of years now so it could be the right time for him to move to a bigger club.
However, with Liverpool currently going through an injury crisis at the back as Dejan Lovren, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are all out with injuries; there is an increasing need to bring in a new centre-back during this winter transfer period. However, one could argue that Tarkowski will be a panic buy for a club renowned for signing players who add long-term value to the organisation.
Recruiting him on a loan deal makes a lot of sense for the Reds as the English defender would be a low-risk short-term acquisition so it would give Liverpool some breathing room if things don’t work out. Even though Joel Matip and Joe Gomez are both nearing a return from their respective injuries, the addition of Tarkowski for a reported fee of £50m during this window would mean that Klopp would have too many cooks in defence who might spoil the broth of winning the Premier League title. Hence, the Reds would be better off concentrating on strengthening other areas of Klopp’s squad in January.
Tarkowski is a very reliable defender who knows how to make timely interceptions and keep clean sheets at the back on a consistent basis. At this moment, it seems like he might be the right choice for the Merseyside club if they are only planning to take him only on a loan deal.
However, the Merseyside club would be pressing the panic button if they sign him permanently as there is no need for a team, having the best defensive record in the English top-flight, to tinker with their backline just to cope with temporary problems.
