James Tarkowski: Whelan issues ‘surprise’ Everton claim after offer tabled
Noel Whelan would be “surprised” if Everton win the race to sign James Tarkowski this summer.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the likes of Aston Villa would be more “mouthwatering” propositions for the 29-year-old.
As revealed by Football Insider last month (29 May), Everton have offered the Burnley defender a £120,000-a-week contract to join on a free transfer.
West Ham and Newcastle are among the centre-back’s other suitors.
The Daily Mail (2 June) claim the Toffees are confident of winning the race for his capture ahead of Villa.
Whelan admitted he thought Tarkowski might fancy joining Steven Gerrard’s men over Everton after an exciting start to the transfer window.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “Look at Aston Villa with the signings they’ve made last season and the beginning of this year. That looks like a really mouthwatering prospect, doesn’t it, with the team Villa are assembling?
“It does surprise me a little bit. There’s obviously something there that’s encouraging him to go towards the Toffees and that rebuilding process under Frank Lampard.
“He’ll be a big part of it. We know for a fact they struggled for last year. The inconsistency, the goals that they leaked, they looked very vulnerable.
“I think he’d be one that they would probably push even harder for to come in at that ship.”
Everton have the likes of Yerry Mina, Michael Keane, Mason Holgate and Ben Godfrey to call on at centre-back.
They conceded the fifth-highest number of goals (66) in the 2021/22 Premier League campaign.
In other news, pundit makes ‘£40million’ Everton transfer claim after Jonjoe Kenny news.