Everton can sign off on perfect James Tarkowski partner in Taylor Harwood-Bellis as transfer news emerges

Everton are interested in signing Manchester City youngster Taylor Harwood-Bellis this summer and Sean Dyche may have identified the perfect long-term defensive partner for James Tarkowski.

The highly-rated centre-back proved an absolute revelation on loan at Burnley under Vincent Kompany’s guidance last season forming the heart of their defence in their impressive race towards Premier League football, registering a goal and two assists from 32 Sky Bet Championship games.

Conor Coady was allowed to leave at the end of his loan spell from Wolves, while Colombian defender Yerry Mina was released at the end of his contract. Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate have also been told they’re free to leave Goodison Park if suitable offers arrive, while the future of Michael Keane and Jarrad Branthwaite are also up in the air right now.

That leaves Dyche-lieutenant Tarkowski as the only guaranteed option for the new campaign which is a significant worry in itself for the former Burnley boss.

While it’s vitally imperative the club seek to keep Branthwaite at the club, adding Harwood-Bellis to their ranks certainly looks like a stunning proposition, and also provides a fresh impetus and foundation for Dyche to build his new-look team from.

The 21-year-old is highly-regarded at the Etihad but his immediate future in Manchester is uncertain with his current contract due to expire next summer, and that has alerted a number of clubs to his situation.

90min reported on 3 April that the Stockport-born centre-back would like to make the grade under Pep Guardiola but is resigned to a bit-part role next season, which could mean his future lies elsewhere and Everton must take advantage of that uncertainty.

An incredibly gifted centre-back possessing excellent qualities on the ball, aggressive and combative in his duel winning as well as being a very capable presence in the air, the 21-year-old possesses all the makings to become a high-level Premier League centre-back and a player the club should be fighting for if City are willing sellers.

Harwood-Bellis was an absolute rock at the heart of Burnley’s backline this season and is strong on and off the ground, where he averaged 3.3 clearances and 3.1 aerial duel successes per league game, via WhoScored while also averaging 1.8 interceptions, 1.1 tackles per game and was only dribbled past on average 0.2 times per game.

However, his most impressive and more complete attributes lie in his ball-progression ranking in the 99th percentile for the number of passes attempted and the 95th for progressive passes, as per FBref, so he’s more than comfortable playing out from the back and pushing his team up the pitch, which will be yet another extremely attractive attribute to Dyche if he can make the step up to the Premier League.

He’d fit right in alongside Tarkowski at the heart of the Everton defence. A move for the Manchester City youngster is an absolute no-brainer, especially for the future of the club.