JAMES Tarkowski has again reiterated that his long-term future is likely to be away from Turf Moor after turning down a new contract.

The Clarets centre back was the subject of a number of bids during the summer transfer window with Burnley turning down offers of more than £30 millions from West Ham and Leicester.

The centre back has already spoken about his desire to compete at a higher level and play in Europe to boost his chances of adding to his two England caps having been overlooked by Gareth Southgate in recent squads.

"Burnley offered me a contract near the start of last season, which, for me personally, it was nowhere near what I was going to sign and I think the club understood," he told the Daily Telegraph.

"And they’ve come back again this year, and still, for me, it’s just not right.

“Finances do matter, but, at this particular stage, whatever path I take I will get financially rewarded so the financial side is not even in my thinking at the moment. It’s more about my football.”

Tarkowski, who is in to the final 18 months of his current deal that expires in 2022, was heavily linked with a move away from Burnley with West Ham in particular returning with several improved offers.

He added: “We’ve had two transfer windows now where the club have decided, for whatever reason, that whatever has been offered on the table hasn’t been enough and that’s fine because I signed a contract for four-and-a-half years.

"So I won’t whinge or not turn up, I just need to deal with it and get on with my football.

“But the longer my contract runs down, I feel I gain the control of my career more than Burnley having the control of it, which is what I feel like I need right now.

“There is nothing I have heard or has been put to me that makes me think there is a scenario in which I would sign a new contract at Burnley. That can change, but currently that is the situation.”

While at Turf Moor, the former Brentford man insists he will continue to give his all for the club and is hopeful the fans understand his current situation.

“In terms of playing, nothing changes,” he said. “My desire to want to be at my best for me and for the team never changes.

"I’ve got relationships at Burnley that I will want to keep for the rest of my life, so for me to just down tools and say, ‘this is it’, it wouldn’t be right and I wouldn’t want to. I want to perform for Burnley, they have given me a great opportunity to play in the Premier League, something which I’ve loved over the last four years.

“I signed a contract and I’ve got to stick to that and play it out, and I want to give my best for Burnley. I’m not just going to let it be a case of getting the next year or whatever out of the way.”

He added: “Burnley is a really close club and I like to think I’ve always had a tight relationship with the fans, and I wouldn’t want that to change because I have such a lot of respect for them.

"I hope they also appreciate that I’ll always do my best for the club, but also that I will want to do the best for myself."