Exclusive
West Ham have rejected bids of £8 million and £9 million from two Premier League clubs for James Tomkins.
And although there is no official confirmation from inside the club, the home grown central defender now looks to be a certain departure this summer.
There was much speculation last summer that he was unlikely to be Slav’s first choice and the manager settled on a first team central defensive partnership of Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid as his preferred pairing, with James Collins very much in the picture when fit.
ClaretandHugh exclusively revealed several days ago the central defender will be allowed to move on and he has been linked with Palace and Sunderland in the past.
We were told by a highly placed Hammers insider: “It’s very much the manager’s decision because James spent a lot of time on the bench last season and he’s unhappy with that.
“As a result the manager will allow him to move on as he doesn’t want unhappy players in the squad but we have not received a suitable offer at this stage.”
I really dont want him to leave.. I LOVE having homegrown players in our squad. I know he wont start but he is a great squad player who can cover CB & RB with no problem at all
I agree completely, i would be loathe to see tompkins go, plus we need British players to meet quotas , i think we should try our best to keep him
We’re making a mistake letting him go, how long has ginge got left in him, a season maybe, I’d rather we let him go IF we have to let anyone leave
Sorry to disagree with the rest but I think the Club will replace him and Ginge ( in time ) with more talented players from overseas , like every Hammer Fan knows Tomkins has been brilliant for us! – but I do feel we are starting to move in big circles now and there is a lot of top notch talent in the Hammers price range these days – exciting times ahead !!!
I also got the feeling that Tomkins wanted a move as his last performance’s did not seem to be at his normal great level – I for one will alway admire him as a player but I do feel we will be able to fill that position if need be !
I agree with the rest.
He he’s just had a good season , despite his injuries and change of position. It’s always a risk to take foreign players so we should stick with him, at least until Oxford is ready.
The real probem is that h wants to go to get more playing time, so he will go.
Ironworker is probably right, I wondered why we were being linked with the lyon centre back ummit (sp) so we possibly are looking for an upgrade but I still think it’s an error, give him a new deal and let him go on loan or promise him to play in all the domestic cup games etc there’s a compromise to be had here
Its a shame but the heart can’t rule the head, I think he said goodbye when he made that poor excuse of a tackle on rashford in the cup , unfortunately tonks makes a few howlers like that every season , I know Bilic will strengthen with a better choice to see us forward ,
Umtiti would be a good choice, IMO.
We can’t keep everyone and move on,if we get £10 million for him it’s good business and we can bring in a better CH to play alongside Ogbonna,and put pressure on Reid to deliver.
More consistent performances,
We need another tough tackling player if we are going to play fast attacking football,
I love Tomo to and when he played for England in the Olympics I thought he would kick on and be playing in the Europeans now ,
But he has not and we can’t stand still,many did not want Downing to go last season but I am sure they are happy now with that slight up grade Payet,
We can’t let our hearts s rule our heads,I would let Ginge and Reid move on but we will need money to replace Tomo
I think until a replacement is signed he will stay, he is at an age where he needs to be playing regularly and Slav doesn’t rate him highly enough so he will probably go, it is a shame as he is a local lad and if he moves on good luck to him.
If we can bring in someone who is an upgrade,no problem.Sentimentality wins you nothing I’m afraid 😉
Previous seasons have proved that we need 4 CBs…and that was without Europe. I think Reid has been a bit suspect recently. This will prob be the last season for Ginge. As such, I think it would be a big mistake to get rid of Tommo – he’s always stepped up to the plate, and would get a lot more opportunity this season…
To me, he’s got a great attitude and I think there is barely anything between all 4 of our CBs, and is an important component cover for bringing the young centre halves through maybe 17-18 season?
Tommo did one of my favourite tackles ever a few years ago v Swansea @ the Boleyn; Shelvey had put Bony through with a fantastic defence splitting ball. Tommo raced after Bony, managed to get level, and just managed to nick the ball sideways with the merest of touches. Bony launched himself like an Olympic long-jumper, but ref, Howard Webb rightly wasn’t. Brilliant! I like Tommo and dn’t want to see him go. Slav is incredibly shrewd; maybe he wants that fractional extra…I trust Slav, but losing Tommo would be v v sad…I just hope the crowd doesn’t do a Scott Parker on him (which I am still very biitter and disgusted about)
I agree with all that.
Rather than sentiment, it’s just a matter of logic to keep decent players, and at this time we need to send Oxford and Burke the right message.
And all this ‘logic’ you speak means nothing if Tonks himself is the one that is unhappy & instigatigating a move.None of us no the real story do we.What do you want,for us to not sign better players or upgrades to keep the old school happy.As I said,if Bilic has an upgrade on Tomkins then he moves on.Sad but that’s life.
Oxford is Tonks replacement, he could be eased into that role & even replace ging by end of the season. He hasn’t let us down when called upon & I can also see Ried being replaced next summer aswell. We are looking forward & to do so we need to replace the players that are here now, everywhere needs improvement in depth. Oxford & these kids we have are the future for us,. No one had heard of Rashford until Feb this year so if they are good enough they should be given playing time. Can only learn so much on loan to lower league clubs. £9m for tonks..? Yep take it, shake the guys hand & wish him well.
Oxford not put a foot wrong? He played a couple of games very early in the season and in his last game, NO-ONE, not even Noble, passed him the ball… and he’s not made a 1st team appearance since. Your opinions are not looking at the facts. Oxford has clearly done well in the academy (even wearing the captain’s band on occasions, I think etc) and got on the 1st team subs bench etc; He ain’t no Rashford (who admittedly is a year older): He ain’t anywhere near ready for a permnanent slot….But with careful nurturing, he could be another Rio…Burke too; he’s not ready to replace Reid! BUT he is making rapid strides to getting there. Like Samuelson, they need the rough and tumble of the Championship to cut their spurs…That means all 3 are at least a season away from 1st team duty…IMO! That’s why I say stick with the 4 superb centre halves that we have…
The way we are heading it won’t be long before we have a whole team of overseas players and no home grown players at all and that is most certainly not the the West Ham way….