Everton captain James Tarkowski has said he wants both Harrison Armstrong and Iliman Ndiaye to still be at the club when the transfer window closes on Tuesday. The pair both started the Blues' game at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, with Tarkowski's stoppage-time equaliser earning David Moyes' men a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.
Transfer speculation swirls
Reports on Saturday morning claimed that Nottingham Forest were working on a £40million transfer for Armstrong – the only Scouser in Everton's first team squad – while Manchester City are rumoured to be plotting a late move for Ndiaye, despite the manager and Hill Dickinson Stadium chiefs insisting that the Senegal international is not for sale.
Asked how he felt the reaction had been from 19-year-old Armstrong when it came to playing against the Cherries against the backdrop of the speculation, Tarkowski said: “I think it's terrific, to be honest, because I've been on the end of transfer rumours and it's not easy, so for a kid of his age to go and perform the way he did today with all that speculation around him, fair play.
“He's a super talented kid, a massive character in our dressing room and we all love him. I'd want him here, of course.
“He's been super important so far to us, but it shows how much of a good player he is with all that speculation around him.”
Dressing room shrugs off disruption
Tarkowski maintained that the Everton dressing room as a whole were able to shrug off the off-the-field disruptions as they prepared for Saturday's Premier League fixture. He said: “It happens a lot though.
“Day after day there's speculation about different players coming in and leaving. It happens all the time. We're probably far too used to it all. I definitely am.
“It's just about making sure for Harrison and whoever else is involved in it that we're just making sure he's ready to play for the club because the most important thing for him is to play football and play to the best of his ability. I thought he was terrific today.”
Captain's plea on key players
Tarkowski, who netted his first goal since succeeding the long-serving Seamus Coleman as Everton's club captain, declared that he hopes the Blues are able to keep hold of their most-talented players. He said: “I'm not in charge of the finances, so it's not really my decision.
“From a selfish standpoint, they are two terrific players in a dressing room full of terrific players, so I'd want to keep everyone in there if it was my choice.
“But you know how football works, people come and go all the time. Iliman's been terrific in his time here. He's shown what a quality player he is, so why would you want to lose someone like that?
“As I said, Harrison has been brilliant. I've known him for four or five years now.
“His potential is massive and he's already improved so much. He's also a massive character in that dressing room for such a young kid.”
