5 January Signings who could push Liverpool to Premier League glory

3) James Tarkowski

Arsenal FC v Burnley FC - Premier League

Having joined Burnley from Brentford in 2016, it was the 2017/2018 campaign that saw James Tarkowski emerge as one of the best English central-defenders around. So much so, the Manchester-born player now has 2 England caps to his name.

Sean Dyche’s men have had a poor first half to the current Premier League season, but Tarkowski has still been one of the team’s better performers and has managed to retain his place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad, which has kept him on top of Premier League Transfer News, linking him to multiple clubs.

What makes Tarkowski a good option for Liverpool, of course, is simply the fact that Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have a clear issue at centre-back. Virgil Van Dijk has been a phenomenal signing for Klopp and was forming a fantastic partnership with Joe Gomez until injury struck young Gomez, but elsewhere there have been several issues for the 5-time Champions League winners.

Dejan Lovren has again proved that he is far, far too prone to errors to be a regular starter in a team competing for top prizes, Joel Matip is decent but injury prone, Trent Alexander-Arnold is a brilliant prospect but again has been prone to picking up knocks, and right-back Nathaniel Clyne has now joined Bournemouth on loan.

Liverpool need defensive cover, particularly in the centre-back position as they look to win their first title since 1990, and James Tarkowski certainly fits the bill as a great ball-winning traditional centre-half to partner Virgil Van Dijk. In fact, The Sun is reporting that Burnley will be willing to sell the player – for £50 million!