Premier League talk pie in the sky - Tarky

Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date published: 05 February 2014


JAMES Tarkowski says stories linking him to top Premier League clubs are the stuff of fantasy.

But as he sat down to discuss a loan move back to Boundary Park the centre-back was deadly realistic about his new club Brentford’s prospects.

“Some of the teams that were talked about, like Liverpool and Manchester United, were ridiculous,” Tarkowski (21), who resumed training with Athletic today after watching the reserves in action at Chapel Road yesterday, told the Chronicle.

“To get a move to a team like that, you have to be playing at a different level. I never believed any of that stuff.

“I was always hoping for high League One or maybe the odd Championship team. Brentford are a team who can easily push on to the Championship and sustain their status there. The owner is really backing them and there’s a team of top players there.”

Tarkowski signed a three-year contract on deadline day. Having met manager Mark Warburton and the coaching staff, he was confident in making the move to an ambitious club, which has plans for a new 20,000-seater stadium for the 2016-17 season.

“I was down there on Thursday for a look around and the manager really impressed me and so did the club,” Tarkowski added. “It is going places and it felt like the right thing to do. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it is a challenge I have got to look forward to.”

As for his expected return to Athletic on an emergency loan basis, Tarkowski wants to put in more of the sort of shows which attracted a flock of scouts in the first place.

He said: “If the loan gets sorted, then I hope I can repay the fans with more good performances before I move on to Brentford.” Athletic hope to wrap up the deal for his return on Friday.