Tarkowski (EVE, Defender, £5.7m)

Verdict: HOLD

Tarkowski is a nailed-on starter for Everton, offering decent clean sheet potential, but his lack of attacking returns limits his FPL ceiling.

The Reasoning

Fitness & Availability: Tarkowski is fully available and a key figure in the Everton defence, playing every minute. There are no fitness concerns or news to report.
Recent Performance: His recent form has been a mixed bag, with two clean sheets in the last five gameweeks, including a solid 9-point haul against Wolves. However, he also blanked with a 2-pointer against Spurs, conceding four goals. He offers minimal attacking threat, with just one assist and no goals this season.
Upcoming Fixtures: Everton face a mixed bag of fixtures. A home tie against Leeds (difficulty 2) in Gameweek 23 looks promising for a clean sheet, but away games against Aston Villa (difficulty 3) and Brighton (difficulty 3) are tougher propositions.
Underlying Stats: His ICT Index of 88.5 and Influence of 553.0 highlight his defensive contributions, but his Creativity (167.6) and Threat (162.0) are low for a defender at his price point, confirming his limited attacking upside.

Risks

The primary risk with Tarkowski is his lack of attacking returns, meaning his FPL points are almost entirely reliant on clean sheets. Everton's defensive consistency can be patchy, and the upcoming away fixtures against Villa and Brighton could see them concede. At £5.7m, he's a relatively expensive option for a non-attacking centre-back.

Alternative Options

If you're looking for a defender around this price point with more attacking potential, consider someone like Gabriel (£5.2m) from Arsenal, who offers clean sheet potential and a greater goal threat from set-pieces. Alternatively, a cheaper option like Dan Burn (£4.5m) at Newcastle could free up funds while still providing clean sheet upside.

The Strategic Play

If you currently own Tarkowski, holding him for the favourable Leeds home fixture in Gameweek 23 is a sensible move. However, beyond that, his value might diminish with tougher away games. Managers looking to upgrade their defence or free up funds for attacking assets might consider selling him after the Leeds game for a cheaper, equally reliable option or a more attacking full-back.

My Team Analysis

Gameweek Analysis

Player Analysis

Players Comparison

Team Analysis