'Not in the Same League' - Exclusive: Robinson reacts to West Ham signing & huge bid

Paul Robinson insisted that new West Ham signing Craig Dawson "is not in the same league" as Burnley defender James Tarkowski.

However, the former England number one, speaking exclusively to Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs, claimed that the 30-year-old is a "very shrewd" capture by David Moyes when price is taken into consideration.

The Irons confirmed the signing of Dawson from Watford on a season-long loan deal on Monday after this site revealed that the club were in talks with the 30-year-old last week.

He made 30 appearances for the Hornets last season but has featured just once in 2020/21, having fallen down the pecking order since the appointment of Vladimir Ivic.

Football Insider revealed last month that the Hammers had ended their interest in Burnley's Tarkowski after failing with a series of bids, one of which totalled £30million.

Robinson suggested that the Clarets centre-back was a class above Dawson.

"West Ham have been criticised for their lack of transfer business this summer but I think Dawson is a very shrewd signing," he told Football Insider.

"He has bags of experience and knows the Premier League inside out. He is a top player.

"They obviously missed out on Tarkowski, whether that was a realistic bid or not I am unsure. The two valuations seemed poles apart so it may have been a token bid by West Ham.

"The signing of Craig Dawson fills a position they need, but he is not in the same league as Tarkowski. Then again, we are not talking about the same kind of money."

In other West Ham news, Noel Whelan drops £30million transfer claim after Sky reveal.