West Ham United ‘sizing up’ offer for Burnley defender James Tarkowski, set to rival Newcastle
West Ham are considering making an offer for James Tarkowski in the summer but face competition from Newcastle, according to Alan Nixon.
The centre-back has made 196 Premier League appearances for the Clarets over the past six seasons but will be available on a free transfer when his contract expires.
Football Insider suggested recently that Everton might be in the running for the 29-year-old this, but Nixon has a likely head-to-head between the Hammers and Magpies as more likely.
Writing on his Patreon, Nixon says: “Hammers are also sizing up an offer for Burnley centre half James Tarkowski who is also on Newcastle’s radar and may have the choice of those two clubs.”
David Moyes is believed to want more help at centre-back, with summer signing Kurt Zouma suffering injuries this year, Angelo Ogbonna coming back off a major knee problem, and Issa Diop potentially leaving the club (The Sun).
Ideal
Tarkowski looks like the perfect profile of player for the club to be targeting, and interest dating back to at least last year should benefit them in the chase for his services.
The money behind Newcastle makes anything possible with them in what promises to be a busy summer but the Irons should be hot on this deal.
His age suggests he is in his prime for a defender, and a free transfer should be attractive to Moyes who is careful with club money.
Craig Dawson has proved to be a revelation since his arrival last year, operating as an all-action iron man at the back while colleagues went down with injuries all around him.
But he can’t do it on his own, and while Zouma has been a good signing while fit he has had fitness issues, as well as the ongoing fall-out from the cat kicking incident.
Dawson is also 32, and Ogbonna 33, so with the manager apparently unsold on Diop it would be entirely logical to bring in a proven Premier League operator who is certain to be available.
In other West Ham news, the BT commentators were shocked by “not good scenes” at a recent Irons game.
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