20 Comments

Hammers look for big fee as defender hunted

tomkins-255812James Tomkins has had a £7 million fee slapped on him by West Ham who expect interest from both Sunderland and Crystal Palace this summer.

The central defender is fancied strongly by Sam Alladyce and Alan Pardew with Slaven Bilic is ready to listen to offers in that area.

Tomkins had a very in and and out season at Upton Park last term with injuries but despite being fully recovered towards the end of the campaign remained on the sidelines  with Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid being used whenever possible.

And despite performing reasonably well at right back Michail Antonio was preferred as Tomkins was forced to sweat it out on the bench.

The manager is a big fan of James Collins and has been looking in the direction of Reece Burke after an outstanding season on loan at Bradford.

And with speculation swirling around Reece Oxford’s head he too could be in line for promotion from the fringes. He is also expected to blood Sam Byram in the full back role next term.

Thus, Tomkins, along with Enner Valencia, is set to find himself very much on the wanted list this summer and may be forced to make up his mind whether he will be reunited with Allardyce – who rates him highly – or stay in London at Palace.

A well placed Irons source told ClaretandHugh: “We always listen to offers for players but nobody will be sold on the cheap. There’s not a first team member we rate lower than £7 million.”

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

20 comments on “Hammers look for big fee as defender hunted

  1. If true, it will be the worst decision by our coaching staff so far. Tonks did nothing wrong and is a true hammer not a mercenary.

  2. Agree with IronHammer. He had a good season, when he was called upon. Especially considering his lack of experience at right back. Like most people, I would have preferred him at right back more of the time, with Antonio on the wing.

    I personally think we should look after those that come through the academy. They’ve lived and breathed the club for so long, and they are who we relate to most as fans.

    These just looks like speculation, and I hope so. I’d be said to see him leave.

    • Agreed. But we always seem to get rid of home grown talent and players who get transferred to club and then dispose of them after nine years, just because they didn’t want the player to get a testimonial. What price loyalty!!!!!

    • In theory we can buy Real Madrid’s starting XI and put a West Ham shirts on em, but will they be West Ham? The answer is obvious. Such players as Nobes and Tonks give that team something to be proud of. If thats a player’s decision.. well..i can accept it, but if its management wish it just so stupid.

  3. I remember when martin came on the scene , always making mistakes , but in the end became a great defender. I see tonks in the same light, he is getting better and better with age . We need to keep him , for at least another 2 seasons , but if sully is to be believed then they are going to buy for the now ! Instant success so to speak ?
    I might add that although he has made mistakes that cost us games , there’s others in the side who have done the same ?
    I like the lad , he deserves to stay.
    He’s a hammer .

  4. agreed with all posts, but I wonder how much Tonks wants to sit on the bench next season and perhaps he has made a decision.

  5. Personally I quite like him, but I’m confident that Bilic will take the right decisions having been a defender. We will see what happens… 😉

  6. I agree that Tonks has been good for the club but if we want to push on & rise to the next level, some popular faces are going to have to leave to make room for better players for all positions. We have Reece Oxford waiting for his chance & if we want to keep all our youngsters at the club we have to show faith & include them.

  7. Unfortunately fishes , the is move has changed everything . Good or bad we have to wait and see . If we are to be successfully the squad has to be as one , all descent teams have players on the bench , who wait for their chance ,
    If a player doesn’t like that set up, then he moves on , at the end of the day its down to the player .
    Its going to be interesting to see what transpires, and don’t forget the wind up merchants out to destabilise us , which ironically is a compliment to the current team and management,
    Let’s see how it pans out !

  8. Is move ?? O.S move,

  9. Very sad to see a loyal servant to be moved on and players inevitably come and go but it’s worse if they don’t actually want to go and i’d be surprised if he does…

  10. F*ck me lads dont write his obituary yet its only speculation haha.Two or three years ago he was ment to be on his way to Pards at Newcastle according to the same speculators.He is still with us though But it is true that there will be casualties as we progress,maybe Tonks will be one of them.Thats life,you will all soon forget about him the same as we do with other players who leave the club 😉

  11. I like Tomkins good reliable pro but if you believe some Irons fans by now he should have 100 England caps lol. He is a reliable player but nothing more than that.The fact that only teams like Palace & Sunderland & before that The Toon are interested in him pretty much shows his level as a player imho.Having said that I do hope he stays as he seems a good kid who loves West Ham.

  12. Sorry fellas but you are going to have to live with this type of thing if we are to step up a level.Players can always be improved upon including homegrown or academy players.You can either want to stand still but love our local lads or you have to move on & build a team with better players.Its a harsh world I’m afraid especially in sport & let’s be honest we can do better than Tomkins if we are serious about moving up a gear or two.

  13. Would be sad to see Tomkins move. His one of our own.
    And if he was to move why only £7M?
    Why do we always pay over the odds for players and always sell to cheaply.
    Would rather keep him than take only £7M

  14. I wouldn’t say we pay over the odds for players.Certainly not in the last few windows.I would say the opposite as it happens.We have signed players of great value for money who were clearly worth more.Thats my belief anyway.

  15. Worth more than £7M , double that at least.
    Mangala £30m worth at least that then.
    Don’t want him to go. One of my favourite players.
    Has been excellent for us this year, more consistent than Reid who is a better player overall but is injured to often.

  16. No one has said he is only worth 7m have they boys,all they say is no one in the first team they rate at less than 7m…
    . “There’s not a first team member we rate lower than £7 million.”
    No one is saying Tonks is only worth that.Read the small print lads haha

  17. We will probably sell Tomkins for a good fee, as he had a good season, then play Oxford when we would have played Tomkins. That could keep Oxford happy.

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