Frank Lampard has outlined how new boy James Tarkowski has already had an impact on the Everton squad while explaining why he prioritised his signing to make him the club’s first incoming transfer of the summer.
Tarkowski’s move to Everton was confirmed at the start of the month after his contract at Burnley officially expired. But the deal was done several weeks earlier as the ECHO revealed back on June 15.
The 29-year-old centre-back has signed a four-year contract and speaking from Everton’s pre-season training camp in the USA, Lampard told evertontv : “I’m delighted with James because he’s a player I’ve admired for a long time, since before working at Everton. I just think he’s proven Premier League quality and durability.
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“When you look at his numbers and watch him play over the years, in a Burnley team that have stayed in the league for different reasons, a lot of those have been built on a robust style, a desire not to be beaten, and that’s the first thing you ask of your centre-backs.
"There’s a great physicality to him. He’s great in both boxes, really good on the ball which is something that can hopefully really add to our game in our build and how we want to play.
“In five minutes you realise he’s a great professional and for me that’s as big a thing as what people do on the pitch sometimes, how they affect the group. He’s walked in straight away and you can see he has that about him.
“I’m pleased we got it done quickly, I’m pleased we got James and I’m sure he’s going to be a big player and the Evertonians are going to love him.”
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