David Moyes has made Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski his ‘priority target’ after West Ham United saw an opening offer rejected, according to the Telegraph.
The Hammers are on the hunt for defensive reinforcements this summer and have turned attentions to Tarkowski after Brighton and Hove Albion’s Shane Duffy secured a season-long loan deal with Celtic despite interest from the London Stadium.
Moyes is ‘determined’ to add further centre-halves to his squad ahead of the new Premier League season, and now has funds at his disposal to begin targeting those who will improve our squad following the sale of winger Grady Diangana to West Bromwich Albion.
West Ham chiefs have already seen one offer for Tarkowski rejected, said to have been worth an initial £20million plus substantial add-ons, but are set to respond to the setback with an improved bid of £27m.
Clarets boss Sean Dyche is expected to be reluctant in allowing Tarkowski to leave Turf Moor this summer, having held firm against interest from Liverpool in January when Jurgen Klopp was quoted £50m for the two-time England international.
How much would Tarkowski be worth in total?
£30-40m
£40-50m
£50m+
Further reporting by The Times suggest Burnley are set to hold firm at their £50m valuation this summer despite the 27-year-old entering the final two years of his current contract, while noting that Leicester City are also interested in Tarkowski.
The Times further state that we saw an offer of £22m rejected, rather than the £20m claimed by the Telegraph, and that Moyes is keen to build on any centre-half’s arrival with that of a new full-back.
It remains to be seen if the club return with an offer for Tarkowski that appeals to Burnley and whether or not sacrificing Diangana has freed funds that will go toward improving the first-team.
Tarkowski started all 38 of Burnley’s Premier League fixtures last season and captained the Clarets for their final six matches of the term, in which he contributed one of his two goals and assists respectively to secure draws against Sheffield United and champions Liverpool.
