Sean Dyche rules out cut-price James Tarkowski transfer despite Burnley fears of losing star on cheap
SEAN DYCHE says James Tarkowski will not be sold on the cheap even though Burnley could lose him for nothing in 18 months.
And the Clarets chief has no fears that the centre-back star will drop his standards if he does remain at Turf Moor for the rest of his contract.
West Ham have already been knocked back with a near £30million bid and Leicester are likely to make another effort to sign Tarkowski, 28, before Monday’s deadline.
But Burnley have so far resisted all offers — and Dyche has no plans to lose a man whose partnership with Ben Mee is one of the most solid in the Premier League.
Dyche said: “He’s under contract, there’s no other situation. If the money comes in, fine, but if not, the financial situation has changed radically and we’re in a very strong position.
“You have to balance the worth of the player for what they do for you, not just the worth of the market.
“It’s the job they do — and Tarky does a very good one for us.”
Tarkowski claims the current offer of another contract is “nowhere near good enough to sign”.
Yet Dyche admitted: “He has answered things very honestly and it doesn’t affect his performances.
“I can accept his opinion so I say to him, ‘Are you ready to play?’.
“He says ‘yes’ and he’s been brilliant.”
At Sunday lunchtime the Prem’s longest-serving boss will pit his wits against a Chelsea side with the newest in Thomas Tuchel.
And Dyche, appointed in 2012, insists he is under the same pressure to deliver as anyone at Stamford Bridge — just a different kind.
He added: “You have all the staff in the offices, all the players, you have our side of things.
“We’ve all got contracts that radically change if we are in the Premier League or not.
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“That is an in-house pressure in itself. I have to deliver on behalf of them, not just on behalf of the outside world. I wouldn’t remotely think Chelsea have those kind.
“I don’t think their auxiliary staff, their playing staff, their office staff are radically going to change their contractual situation.
“I always factor the welfare of a lot of people here, not just for me.”
