NUFC set to sign Premier League defender on bargain deal as West Ham accept defeat - Report
According to The Mirror, Newcastle look set to sign James Tarkowski on a free transfer this summer.
In a new 'exclusive' released by James Nursey today, he claims that West Ham have now given up hope of bringing the Burnley defender to the London Stadium as they believe he is on his way to St James' Park.
The report states that Tarkowski is one of Eddie Howe's 'major transfer targets' this summer, with him set to quit Turf Moor when his contract expires at the end of the season - whether they stay up or not.
It's also said that we are willing to offer the 29-year-old a 'big rise' on his current £50,000-a-week wages at Burnley.
If true an the twice capped England international ends up on Tyneside, this could be deemed a smart piece of business and clever way of working within FFP restrictions, bringing in a Premier League proven defender who could replace the likes of Ciaran Clark and Federico Fernandez - two centre-backs expected to leave this summer.
It isn't a big name arrival, but he improves our squad and could even be a Jamaal Lascelles replacement should our club captain - who has struggled for game time of late - also move on.
Tarkowski was heavily linked with a move to Tyneside prior to the January window, with The Telegraph claiming he could be the first signing of the Saudi era, however it seems Burnley preferred to lose him on a free than sell him to one of their biggest relegation rivals at the time.
