James Tarkowski has made his ambitions clear and they sounds like bad news for West Ham United.
David Moyes has now made no secret of his determination to bring the player to the club if he can manage it but the Clarets central defender has been making his feelings known on where he wants to go next.
There has been much speculation that the player may or may not want to live and work in London but in quotes delivered per The Telegraph that doesn’t seem to feature in his thinking.
He is determined to ensure he becomes a part of England boss Gareth Southgate’s thinking and believes that can only happen at a big club – a Champions League club.
Right now Moyes and West Ham appear to have all their eggs in the ‘Tarky’ basket and are now preparing a third bid for the 27 year old.
Speaking to the Telegraph he is claimed to have said: “For me, with the age I am coming into my prime years and wanting to progress, I want to go for the top level.
“I want to play at the best level I can, club football and internationally. I want to test myself against the best. We will see what happens. I just want to play at the top level and if that opportunity came I don’t think it is something I could turn down.
“Champions League and playing for your country, playing in big tournaments, is playing at the top level, so that’s what I would want to do if the opportunities came.”
This does not seem surprising – given where we are compared to Burnley, why would he want to move? At least it shows he has ambition.
Personally, I think we should be looking to people at the top end of the Championship, who want to move up a level. We know that there are players there who can make that step up in quality (hell, we’ve already got one!!) and we know that they are potentially more affordable (if the Tweedle brothers are crying penury) than someone like Tarkowski who, with all due respect, is not worth more than half the fee Liverpool paid for possibly the best defender in the world at present.
If he’s ambitious why would he come to a club that in selling Diangana has shown it has no ambition. Selling one of its hottest prospects to a relegation rival!
In doing so it’s clear that the club has lost the dressing room: if Mark Noble has lost faith then this team is doomed. Rice will have gone by the close of the window.
Tarkowski would have to mad to sign for us if he has any desire for anything given the current mess the club are in.
Well, I suppose he is right to be ambitious. But if he were REALLY ambitious, he would come to the Hammers and get us up there challenging for a European spot! 🙂
Moyes needs to move on from this one – we need players who are happy to join us .
This fee imo would be better spent on 2 full backs .
No one else has made an offer , so Hugh do you think we have a chance? He would instantly improve the defence !
Always a chance Mark. Third offer made
This will not appease the fans. Paying £30m for a center back who has lost his edge. Not much better than what we have. The Diangana affair has made me and many others so dissillusioned with the club I can’t see any way back for this board and ANYONE who supports them.