DYCHE: TARKO’S A NO GO

BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche insists he is under no financial pressure to cash in on England defender James Tarkowski.

Leicester are preparing to once again test the Clarets’ resolve to keep Tarkowski after having two bids for the centre-back rejected in the summer.

Tarkowski has declared that he has no intention of signing a new contract at Turf Moor with just 18 months left on his current deal.

But Dyche (below) feels flogging him for £30million would be a false economy as he battles to once again keep the club in the Premier League – and it seems the Clarets’ new American owners have got his back.

Dyche said: “The only situation with James is that he is under contract. The financial side of this club has changed radically over the last six or seven years.

“We are very strong in that respect, so when a club comes in for one of our players it is no longer the case that we have to make the most of it.

“The Premier League is very powerful in financial terms. So when a club comes in for a player you have to weigh up not just their worth on the market but what they do for your team.

“James does a very good job so it isn’t in my thinking to bring money in for these players.

“I’m only interested in what a player can do to help take this team forward – and James plays a big part in that.”

Burnley face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge today looking for a fourth successive win after beating Manchester United and Aston Villa in the Premier League and knocking Fulham out of the FA Cup.

Tarkowski has played a key role alongside skipper Ben Mee since arriving at Turf Moor from Brentford in 2016.

But while the Manchester-born defender’s head was turned by bids from Leicester and West Ham in the summer, Dyche has been delighted with his form.

Tarkowski has a £50million release clause in his contract, but Burnley must hand Brentford 27.5 per cent of any fee as part of the £3.5million deal that took him to Turf Moor.

Burnley have been monitoring Stoke’s Nathan Collins as a potential replacement.

Dyche added: “We will see what the future brings, but it hasn’t affected James’s performances and he trains fantastically well.”