The Athletic's Chris Waugh believes Burnley defender James Tarkowski would be an ideal first signing for Newcastle United under their new owners.

That long-awaited takeover on Tyneside finally got the all-clear earlier this month, and it seems that the Toon Army are likely to spend big in the upcoming transfer window in January.

What's the latest news involving Tarkowski?

Tarkowski has been at Turf Moor since February 2016, and has helped establish Burnley as a top-flight club in recent years.

However, his contract is set to expire next summer, and he is yet to extend his deal with Sean Dyche's men.

As things stand, Burnley risk losing the 28-year-old for free in June, and their only chance of getting a fee for the player will be in January. It has been reported that Newcastle are willing to test Burnley's resolve by making a move for Tarkowski, who is understood to be interested in joining the Magpies.

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What has Waugh said about Tarkowski potentially joining Newcastle?

Waugh feels that Tarkowski has the attributes to succeed at St James' Park, and has claimed that he would be a positive signing for Newcastle.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “Someone like James Tarkowski fits the bill of what you would expect. He’s got experience in the Premier League, Newcastle need a centre-back. He’s someone who you could see growing with Newcastle as well.”

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Would Tarkowski be a good addition to Newcastle's squad?

The 6 foot 1 centre-back, who is valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt, is hardly the glamourous name that some fans may have been hoping the club will target, but Newcastle have to remain realistic at this point. They are not going to attract the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi while they're stuck in the bottom three.

The aim this year has to be to avoid relegation, and Tarkowski is used to that type of scrap at Burnley. As Waugh alluded to, he would bring a wealth of experience, having played over 160 Premier League matches, so it is unlikely that he would need long to settle in.

Furthermore, Newcastle badly need to strengthen their defence. The team have shipped goals at an alarming rate this term, and this could see them drop into the Championship if they don't sort this issue out quickly.

The England international knows how to organise a backline, and would be the perfect player to steady things down at the heart of the team's defence, enabling the North-East club to build on a solid platform in the second half of the season if he arrives in January.

Read More - January Transfer Window 2022: When does it open, when does it close and which players are going to move?