Tarkowski to demand Burnley accept West Ham bid after ‘interesting’ development – pundit
Noel Whelan has tipped James Tarkowski to demand Burnley accept an offer from West Ham for him in January.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the Clarets are not in a position to turn down a big-money bid for the 29-year-old.
As revealed by Football Insider on Monday (30 November), Burnley are doubling down on blocking Tarkowski leaving next month, despite his contract expiring at the end of the season.
As detailed by this site last month (12 November), the centre-back would jump at the chance to join West Ham.
The defender is a January target for the Irons, with David Moyes a huge admirer.
Whelan suggested Tarkowski could push Burnley to accept an offer for him.
“I think Burnley have got to be very mindful of who they are,” Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge.
“The fact that they don’t have too much money at the club – yes, they’ve got new owners.
“But can you really afford to let a player of Tarkowski’s quality leave on a free contract? Can they not worry about the money that you may have got into the club? I believe they can’t.
“They’ve got to listen to offers. If he’s there, looking to leave and wanting a new challenge, which I’m sure he does when you got the likes of West Ham looking at you, he’ll want that opportunity.
“I think if you ask James, he has been there that long, he has got a great relationship with the club and definitely with Sean Dyche, he won’t want the club going without a transfer.
“He’s got that loyalty to the club that he will want them to get something for him. So I think January might be very interesting for Burnley and for West Ham when it comes to Tarkowski.”
Tarkowski has played 13 times for Burnley this season.
West Ham are in the market for a new centre-back after Angelo Ogbonna’s season-ending injury blow.
In other news, West Ham tipped to complete a £25million striker signing in January after a reveal from Kretinsky.