Sam Allardyce has been warned he has absolutely no chance of taking James Tomkins to Sunderland at any price.
The former manager’s admiration of the player is well known and – down to three first team back four men – he was today linked with a January move for the player in the national press.
The pair had their differences after the central defender opted for Great Britain Olympic Games duty but battled his way back into favour after getting the famous Big Sam cold shoulder.
And now the Black Cats boss would love to believe that he could woo him away from Upton Park for around £8 million but with the player having agreed a deal which will keep him at the club until 2020 only last winter it’s not going to happen.
Allardyce is likely to settle for a move on James Collins and Joey O’Brien which would ease the wage bill and allow the Irons to possibly bring in a loan signing or two.
But the Tomkins option is simply not on with a source telling ClaretandHugh: There’s not a chance of JT leaving. It’s simply not worth a conversation.”