David Moyes is adamant on securing some reinforcements for West Ham United’s defensive line in the ongoing summer transfer window. And recent reports suggested that the Hammers do have a couple of clear targets in sight.
Burnley’s James Tarkowski is surely one of them and West Ham even submitted a £27m transfer offer for the English defender. However, they have just been dealt a massive blow as The Sun report the Clarets have now turned them down and are also asking for double that amount.
Of course, this is also a knee-jerk reaction to other Premier League business that is being done in the ongoing window, namely Nathan Ake’s lucrative switch from Bournemouth to Manchester City.
This, the same source suggests, has prompted Burnley to slam a huge price tag on their man. And seeing how West Ham don’t exactly have huge piles of money to spend, this might be a blow that ends the pursuit as a whole.
Sean Dyche is also in no rush whatsoever to sell the 27-year-old defender so it’s highly unlikely that they will be open to reducing their price.
Tarkowski has spent the last four years playing under the Clarets’ coach and has even formed a great partnership with Ben Mee. Needless to say, Burnley will do everything they can not to break them up.
For the Hammers, however, this could easily mean game over.
Verdict
It goes without saying that if Burnley don’t budge and they keep insisting on the ridiculously high price tag, West Ham won’t stand a chance. For that reason, maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to start looking for alternatives.
Tarkowski is good and would be a great addition to the Hammers but not at any cost. Moyes will have to keep looking to finally find his man.