Sean Dyche says Burnley have given James Tarkowski a new contract to bring his pay into line with other players at Turf Moor amid links of a move away.

The centre-back had 18 months left on his previous contract and is understood to have more than doubled his £15,000-a-week wages after he put pen to paper on a new four-and-a-half-year deal.

Tarkowski, who joined the Clarets from Brentford in 2016, has been an integral part of Burnley’s impressive season having stepped up following the departure of Michael Keane to Everton.

The 25-year-old’s performances have seen him touted with an England call up and even speculation of interest from Arsenal and Chelsea.

James Tarkowski has impressed in defence for Burnley this season (
Image:
David Price)

“His contract was slightly behind the curve at the club because he had come out of Brentford so we felt it was appropriate on two levels,” said Clarets boss Dyche.

“One he’s worked well and well in the Premier League and continues to show that. And two because it was out of sync and when players are out of sync we feel it is appropriate to have them all in similar band.

Tarkowski (l) has been linked with a move away from Burnley (
Image:
Alex Livesey)

“I mentioned recently we have a good collection of players, ones we enjoy working with, and they are under good contracts. Tarky was, but we felt it appropriate.

“There’s another couple we are talking to already. We try to work on a level of fairness and making sure players are on appropriate contracts at the right time. Tarky fits into that really.”

Sean Dyche said Burnley wanted to bring Tarkowski's pay in line with his team-mates (
Image:
Getty)

Dyche, meanwhile, confirmed that midfielder Scott Arfield will miss their FA Cup third-round clash against Manchester City as he plans to make substantial changes for the tie.

“We’ll have to (rotate) on this occasion,” Dyche said. “We have lost players. We picked up another niggly one which means Scott will probably miss out.

Scott Arfield looks set to miss Burnley's FA Cup third-round clash against Manchester City (
Image:
Clive Brunskill)

“Scott has a minor hamstring. Nothing major but he’s had to come out of training today. We will see how that settles down but it’s so close to the game it’s improbable.

“We have to make changes. We have no choice. The players have played two games in three days, the bulk of them. They are, as much as I work them hard and their will to work hard, humans and I don’t forget that.”