30th Apr, 2022 | 11:19am

Sources: Everton in James Tarkowski transfer mission

Everton are keen on signing Burnley defender James Tarkowski on a summer free transfer, Football Insider understands.

The Merseysiders are in the market for a proven Premier League centre-back if they avoid relegation this season.

An Everton source has told Football Insider that recently-appointed director of football Kevin Thelwell is a big admirer of Tarkowski.

He was at Turf Moor last Sunday to run the rule over the centre-back, 29, in their 1-0 Premier League win over Wolves.

Tarkowski played the full 90 minutes as his team kept a clean sheet to maintain their hopes of top-flight survival.

The England international is out of contract at Burnley at the end of the season and has rejected multiple extension offers from the club.

Football Insider revealed last year (30 November 2021) that the Clarets had no intention of letting Tarkowski leave in the winter window and would block all January approaches.

Newcastle and West Ham had registered their interest in the experienced defender.

Tarkowski joined Burnley from Brentford for a reported £3.5million in 2016 and has gone on to make 215 appearances for the club.

Everton will be desperate to bolster their faltering defence if they can manage to escape relegation to the Championship this term.

Frank Lampard’s side are two points adrift of Burnley in 17th with a game in hand on the Clarets.

Tarkowski’s current side have gazumped Everton in the table after picking up seven points in three games in the wake of Sean Dyche’s shock sacking.

The Toffees have conceded the joint-fifth most goals in the top flight this term.

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