Moyes defender hopes slide

Chris Woods’ departure from Burnley for Newcastle may well have halted any hopes David Moyes had of signing central defender James Tarkowski in the winter window.

The Hammers boss is understood to still see another central defender ass a priority rather than launching a bid for a striker and we believe Tarkowski has always been on his radar.

Burnley had no options but to let Woods leave for the north east when the Geordies met the £25 million release clause and they are likely to see it as suicide to let the central defender leave as well given their bottom of the table position.

We are told by our northern man Terry Robbins that an £8.25 bid has been put in by an unnamed club but with the Clarets now involved in a desperate relegation battle a decision to let the 29 year old could be seen as madness on their part.

He is right sided and Moyes would prefer a left side defender as cover for Oggy both now and when he returns when he has been promised a new deal as he too is out of contract in June.