By Darren Bent

14th Nov, 2020 | 8:00pm

Exclusive: Bent 'fully expects' West Ham move for England ace after £30m bid tabled

West Ham have been tipped to reignite their bid to sign James Tarkowski from Burnley in January by Darren Bent.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley, the former England striker expects the Hammers to push for “a player I really like”.

Tarkowski will enter the final year of his deal next summer and he told the Telegraph earlier this week he has no plans to sign an extension.

This has opened the door for clubs to make new moves to prise the England international from Turf Moor in January.

West Ham place a series of bids for the 27-year-old rising to £30million in the summer but failed to match Burnley’s £35million valuation.

Asked by Football Insider whether he expects West Ham reignite their attempts to sign Tarkowski next summer, Bent said: “Yes, I fully expect them to.

“He’s certainly a player that I really like. He’s very good, he defends really well.

“He’s right in what he’s saying. Burnley have done very well up to a point but then you start to think to yourself ‘what are Burnely’s ambitions? Are they trying to win trophies? Or do they just want to stay in the Premier League again?’

“That’s not just Tarkowski either, that’s a number of their players, I’d even put the manager in that as well.

“We’ve heard Sean Dyche come out and say investment in the club hasn’t been enough.

“Tarkowski wants a fresh challenge and wants to play at the next level and you can’t crucify him for that, you commend him.

“Hendrick left on a free last year and you can’t let your best players leave on a free.”

In other news, David Moyes’ ‘agony’ revealed after Leicester City beat West Ham to signing.