'His time at Burnley is done' - former England striker delivers verdict on £50m-rated Clarets star

DERBY, ENGLAND- October 29: Kevin Phillips, Assistant Coach at Derby County looks on before the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday at iPro Stadium on October 29, 2016 in Derby, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Former Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Birmingham City striker Kevin Phillips has delivered a damning verdict on the future of Burnley star James Tarkowski.

Tarkowski was the subject of transfer interest from Leicester City and West Ham during the summer, with neither club willing to meet the Clarets’ £50m valuation.

The 27-year-old centre back recently told the Telegraph that we will not sign a new contract at Turf Moor, having already rejected multiple offers from the club.

The comments prompted a mixed reaction from Burnley fans and have placed top-flight clubs on alert, with several reportedly hoping to bag the defender in the winter transfer window.

Indeed, former England, Sunderland, Birmingham City and Crystal Palace striker Kevin Phillips believes Tarkowski's exit this January could already be a done deal.

“The agent may have already agreed something, spoke to them and said to Tarkowski, ‘just hang on until January’”, Phillips told Football Insider. “He would have been disappointed not to have moved on.

"It looks as if the player has made up his mind – his time at Burnley is done. At least he has been vocal about it.

“He is taking stock of his own career and it looks like he wants to move on. It has been a tough start to the season for Burnley. He has been put under a lot of pressure.

“On the other hand it has been a decent start for West Ham and David Moyes is building something there that Tarkowski may want to be a part of. It says to me that the player will be moving on in January.”