Hammers ready with Tarkowski pay rise

West Ham are into a waiting game for James Tarkowski and hopefully two other defenders as the Hammers head towards their next Premier League clash against Wolves at the weekend.

Burnley – knowing there are just 24 months left on the contract of their 27-year-old defender – are believed to still be weighing up whether they can afford to keep the player in face of a £35 million offer.

It would mean that were they to hold onto him until January they would get a reduced offer given his contract expires in June 2022 and that’s what is concentrating minds in the Turf Moor boardroom.

One thing is for sure the deal is not dead as with the Clarets having a pay ceiling of around £35k a week on players the central defender can expect to pick up at least another £20k a week at the London Stadium.

There’s room in the wage budget following the departures of Zabaleta, Sanchez, Roberto, Albian Ajeti and Jordan Hugill.

Moyes has already indicated that he could strengthen across the entire backline but it’s likely that there will be loan signings arriving rather than three or four permanent signings.